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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap...„i_ Copyright No. 

ShelL_I 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




' V 


Thy Brother 
Leonidas 


BX 



SAKAH WILDER PRATT 


Aitthok OF “The Voice in the Sieence,” “Tim’S Faibt 
Taees,” “Heeps,” “Lifts,” Etc., Etc. 


that lurk3 each form within 
Beckons to spirits of its kin; 
Self-kindled every atom glows, 

And hints tho future which It owes.” 

—Emerson. 






PtTBEISHED BX 

UNIVERSAL TRUTH PUBLISHING CO. 

B7-89 WASHINGTON STHEET 

CniGAGO 

U .. 


It 

»> 

> > 
> i > 


> >> 


TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 

Library of Coagret^ 
Offiso 0 f tho 

FER 14 1900 

««gl«f*r of Copyrights 


55959 


Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1900/ 
by 

SARAH WILDER PRATT, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. 




SfecoNu (jopy, 




to my best belooed, my sister, 


WHOSE LIFE FILLED WITH THE PATIENCE OF ENDUR- 
ING LOVE, HAS BEEN AN EXAMPLE OF COURAGE 
TO ME IN ALL TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT, 

AND A STRENGTH IN MANY HOURS 
OF DARKNESS, I DEDICATE 
THIS BOOK 


in looinn remembrance* 






PREFACE. 


If in the mind of one soul who reads these 
pages a single seed thought shall be 
planted, and, germinating unfold its beauty 
and its power, bearing its fruition and its 
blessing, I shall be glad that I had the 
courage to send it forth into the great 
thought world. If one soul learns through 
any thought herein expressed the power of 
love on its highest plane, I shall be glad; 
if any child shall be better born, through 
hints of pre-natal influence, then this book 
has not been written in vain. If it teaches 
to any one the joy and great reward of con- 
scious well-doing, my desire is accom- 
plished, S. W. P. 


INDEX 


OHAPTBB . .. PAGE 

I 9 

II 27 

III - - . , - - - 38 

IV ...... 52 

. V 63 

VI - • - - - - , - 86 

VII - 90 

VIII - - - - - . - 104 

IX - - - - - - 120 

X 128 

XI ----- - 142 

XII 152 

XIII 163 

XIV 189 

XV 204 

XVI - ' 215 

XVII 237 

XVIII ------ 250 



THY BROTHER LEONIDAS 


CHAPTER I. 

It was seven-thirty by my companion’s 
watch as we left the breakfast table at 
Kaye’s Park, and sauntered down the flow- 
er bordered walk, leading to the summer 
house at the water’s edge of beautiful Lake 
Geneva. It was a perfectly clear morning 
in early July, 1880. 

We had arrived the night before, glad to 
escape from the heat, and from the mental 
pressure always felt in any large city, espe- 
cially in Chicago, w^here enterprise and 
push are the all-prevailing forces. 

We had the evening before, been invited 
to take a sail wdth a party, in a beautiful 
new boat owned by the son of a wealthy 
Chicagoan, whose summer home was at the 
Lake. 

So great had been our gladness to 
breathe the dustless air of that wonderfully 


lO THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

beautiful lake region, that we breakfasted 
early for the purpose of enjoying all the 
beauty of the time and place possible be- 
fore the stir began. 

Such verdure as Lake Geneva is bordered 
with; such marvelous green of forest trees, 
whose roots may drink perpetually of that 
clear lake; such coloring of sky and water, 
sweet air and freshness everywhere, can 
certainly not be excelled, even in the famed 
resorts of the old world. 

O America! How beautiful thou art! 
Go where we will, we may find enchant- 
ment, whether it be along the blue Gulf of 
the South; in paradicial California with 
her Golden Gate and countless treasures; 
in the Rocky Mountains of her western por- 
tion; in the heart of the Yellowstone Park; 
in picturesque and beautiful Salt Lake 
City; in Colorado Springs and the Garden 
of the Gods, or among the innumerable and 
continuous chain of lakes whose waters 
coursing through the St. Lawrence, wash 
her Atlantic coast, and mingle at last in the 
Gulf Stream. 

O America, thy children are blessed in- 
deed! Within thy bosom are found the 


thy brother LEONIDAS. 


II 


treasures of the universe. Thou lackest 
naught of gold and silver, and of copper, 
coal and oil, thou art the rich possessor. 
Thy waters are a perpetual comfort to thy 
people; and he who will may find all these 
riches, and prove himself great in power 
and fortune. One shall find whatever he 
will, whatever he seeks, and know Avant no 
more. It only needs steadfastness of pur- 
pose to coin thy gold and live in plenty. 
None need be poor on this continent, if only 
he will learn to know that work is divine, 
and that success is the reward of a steady- 
hearted purpose. 

But I was going to tell you about our 
sail. The hour of quiet inbreathing in the 
rustic arbor had already quickly passed, 
we found. And my companion again drew 
out his watch and exclaimed, ‘We must 
leave this resting place, for the party is 
already at the pier. They are hoisting the 
sails; we shall lose our ride if we linger.” 

I did not want to go, so peaceful, so bliss- 
ful was that waiting hour, but he had prom- 
ised, and go we must. 

We could hear distinctly the shouting 
and merrymaking as the guests came hur- 


12 


thy brother LEONIDAS. 


riedly to the end of the pier; a merry crew 
indeed. Sweethearts and friends, philos- 
ophers and poets; a well chosen company. 

One distinguished looking person, as dig- 
nified as a Duchess, robed in a white morn- 
ing gown, the becoming folds of which fell 
in ripples on the rug beneath her feet, was 
already seated in the boat. 

I was a stranger to nearly all the party, 
therefore little was expected of me aside 
from the compliments of the day. This 
gave me ample time to observe character, 
a study which had ever been my ceaseless 
delight. I felt some satisfaction that I was 
not likely to be disturbed, consequently 
less likely to be mistaken. I should need 
no other entertainment, than to read the 
variety of faces in our morning boat load. 

To tell you all the names of the company 
would be tiresome. But I wish it w^ere pos- 
sible to photograph the charming assem- 
bly. 

There was the tall and elegant Professor 
Scales and his much admired wife, a moth- 
erly, gracious woman, whose manner be- 
spoke an acquaintance with cultured so- 
ciety, and who possessed an apparent habit 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


3 


of thoughtfulness for others, interesting 
indeed. 

There was a charming young lady whom 
they called Jessie Dunkirk and whom I 
soon learned to be the daughter of the one 
I had named in a whisper to my companion, 
^^The Duchess,” a name which I afterward 
laughingly addressed her by, and by which 
she soon came to be known. So free and 
frolicsome was Jessie Dunkirk in her mirth 
that it soon proved contagious, and she at 
times kept the whole company convulsed 
with laughter. Her dainty, dimpled hands 
were soft as her dimpled cheeks, the rosy 
tint of which, together with her brown eyes 
and hair, made her an attractive presence. 

I noticed that the eyes of the ^^Duchess” 
were seldom absent from her beautiful 
daughter, and that there was one other in 
the company, a young man, apparently a 
little her senior, tall, dark and lean, Frank 
Dayton by name, who also had neither eyes 
nor ears for any one but Jessie. He was 
the owner of the boat, and was very proud 
of it, as well as of his skill in sailing it. 

I particularly noticed anothergentleman, 
pleasing and kindly in appearance, whom I 


14 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

found to be the father of Jessie Dunkirk. 
With him was the Eev. Edward Sevor of 
Kentucky, who had the reputation of being 
rich, though you would not guess it from 
his clothing, which presented a striking 
contrast to that of his gay young wife. 
Half a dozen young ladies, and as many 
grown boys just from college, — perhaps I 
ought to say young men, who had come to 
the Lake for a summer^s pleasure and who 
were bound to crowd their days with fun 
and frolic, completed the list of passengers. 

As I sat thinking upon all that was pass- 
ing about me, I wondered what would be 
the outcome of just this one trip, how many 
hearts Cupid would pierce with his arrows, 
and how many marriages impelled by 
fancyj or pushed by the need of a fortune? 

You see I was comparatively free to spec- 
ulate, since my companion had the happy 
faculty of doing the agreeable for us both, 
especially when I chose to be quiet and ab- 
sorb myself in the work of reading faces. 

Over the waters of the beautiful lake the 
boat, with her white sails, sped like an ar- 
row to Williams Bay, a place then scarcely 
known. It had not the life and stir of to- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 15 

day, nineteen years from the time of which 
I write. 

Nineteen eventful years! Oh, how event- 
ful to some, perhaps to all of that party! 

My companion — well I did not start to 
write of him or of myself, so I will only say 
he has gone. But the bliss of those hours 
and many others, and of months and years, 
are burning fresh in the memory still; a 
dream that makes life precious and tinges 
many a day of then undreamed of hard- 
ships, with a glory of illumination that 
promises a fuller realization in the great 
forever. The young folks around me in 
their exuberant spirits were calling out 
in good natured raillery and in wild extrav- 
aganza. 

^^Ho! helmsman,’’ called one, ‘^whither 
steerest thou so blindly? Knowest thop not 
there is danger here? Take care, or we 
shall be run ashore.” 

Another voice rang out: 

^Tilot, pilot, it seems to me Tis thine own 
life boat thou art absorbed in steering. 
Thou hast eyes only for the sweet face of 
thy guest. And she, — well! Have some 
care for her, and keep the boat in its true 


1 6 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

course. The lowlands of Williams Bay 
may prove less interesting to thee than Ge- 
neva, at the other end of the Lake.’’ 

Cried another: 

‘Wour nautical knowledge gained at 
Yale is better applied to the oars than the 
sails. With the fairest belle of the season, 
I challenge you all to the use of them to- 
night.” 

Just then our boat turned quickly. The 
young folks ceased their banter. The wdnd 
that had been blowing so softly now fresh- 
ened up, striking the sails with such force 
that but for the expertness of the ^Tean 
young man” we certainly should have been 
capsized. 

In the space of ten minutes he had risen 
to the position of hero, and we forgot his 
leanness, and his absorption in Miss Dun- 
kirk, of whom every one- wished to know 
more. We remembered only, with grati- 
tude, that we had escaped an unexpected 
bath because of his skill. 

Another gust struck the sail, the sun was 
suddenly obscured ; the lake grew dark and 
wild; a low rumble of thunder was heard; 
the darkness deepened, and the sky was 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


17 


quickly overcast; a moment more and the 
rain i^oured, almost as from a water spout; 

‘^Quick, boysT’ shouted the helmsman. 
“Lower the sail, man the oars, and row for 
life, and the sweet praise of eyes that are 
like stars in darksome night. 

“Quick! Bend to your oars like one man. 
Prove your power! boys of Yale! The lake 
is rough with frenzy. Look ye! To the 
boat-house yonder, leagues away. We can 
find shelter there until the storm is past,” 
shouted the same voice. / 

Whence the storm had come, none could 
guess, so unexpectedly had it burst upon 
us. A watchful eye might have seen its ap- 
proach. But enjoyment was the sole aim of 
this boat load of merry makers. 

“Pull away, boys! Long strokes! The 
boathouse is coming closer in view. The 
waves are following us like bloodhounds. 
Quick! Steady! Strong!” shouted again 
the helmsman, whose voice was almost lost 
in the noise of the storm. 

“Once behind the boathouse and we are 
saved. It is impossible now to try to make 
the pier.” 

All not pulling at the oars sat breathless. 


1 8 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

The boat moved with great swiftness, for 
the waves were pushing, and at the same 
time leaping in fierce sport over its edges, 
leaving not a dry thread on any one of us. 

A few more minutes and the boat with a 
great bound plunged on to the rocks behind 
the boathouse. The rain was still pouring. 
Not a word was heard. The unloading was 
an affair of moments only, and shelter 
was found in the boathouse. 

“Thank God!’^ were the first words 
spoken. The thunder and lightning played 
in deafening peals and blinding flashes. 

AVhat was to be done? We could only 
wait for the storm to subside, and let our 
clothes dry on us. There was no danger of 
colds, for fear had so fevered the blood 
that the drying process had already com- 
menced, and this sudden shower had grown 
into such a terrible storm that for a time it 
looked as though we were imprisoned for 
the day. 

There were not as many steamers run- 
ning then as now, and there would have 
been no possibility of hailing one if it had 
been near. We had only to wait. 

Suddenly we thought we heard screams, 
and then came a thud against the boat- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


19 


house. Looking out through the small win- 
dow two white faces were seen, and hands 
clinging to the mast of an upturned sail- 
boat. 

Frank Dayton waited not an instant, but 
throwing oif what clothing he could, 
plunged out into the storm and waves. 
For a time he was lost to sight. A moment 
more and he had seized in his strong left 
arm a drowning girl who appeared lifeless 
and a dead weight in his grasp. It was 
now life or death with him. What thoughts 
may have passed through his mind in that 
instant of time! But he had made himself 
the hero of the hour once before this same 
day. Did he think of the flashing brown 
eyes, or only of his life-saving service, or 
how best to reach the shore? It was not 
safe to try to gain the boathouse in any 
other way. What would become of the 
other white-faced form now floating? Was 
he alive or dead? 

Once, twice the muscular youth seemed 
to be proving himself master. The third 
time he was carried by the fierce but kindly 
waves on to a safe spot of the shore. For 
an instant he looked at the face of the girl. 


20 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


placed his hand over her heart, and, 
quickly lifting her, picked his way with 
firm and clinging feet across the slippery 
walk into the boathouse and laid her on the 
floor. Turning, he rushed with a sudden 
impulse and plunged again into the waves, 
where two of the rowers had already pre- 
ceded him. It was no child’s play to 
wrestle with these waves or search for 
drowning ones. 

Whilst the search for bodies was going 
on without, the fight for life was going on 
within. A doctor and surgeon were not 
wanting. They began active operations 
upon the insensible girl. They did all that 
alert minds and an emergency suggested. 
They knew that life was not extinct. ^^She 
is not dead,” said the surgeon, ^^and will 
soon be herself again,” for he had noticed a 
slight motion of the* eyelids, though they 
did not open. Scarcely had he made this 
announcement when another body, appar- 
ently lifeless, was brought in by two of the 
oarsmen and laid on the crowded floor. 

^ ^^Quick! For God’s sake, be quick!” said 
one of the men to the surgeon. ^Tt will 
take all your skill to bring life back into 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


21 


his body. I am afraid it is gone. He 
must live, this glorious Richard Dent. We 
can none of us spare him, least of all we 
college boys. He is so good, so glorious.” 

^^He’s always our leader, always our 
peacemaker,” said another. 

“Roll him over on his face,” said the sur- 
geon. “Here, doctor, take charge of this 
case. The girl is breathing faintly now. 
There is no drug shop near and we fellows 
are all empty pocketed. We shall have to 
depend upon the Divine Spirit this time to 
restore her. Speak to her, and encourage 
her. She will hear you, and see to it, each 
of you, that you keep up your own courage 
and thus encourage her, while I give my 
attention to Richard,” said Surgeon Helm 
turning to the form that had just been 
brought in. 

I noticed he did not say “poor Richard.” 
It struck me then as a little cold and un- 
sympathetic. I have learned since why he 
did not call him “poor.” There was wis- 
dom in it that I did not then understand. 

“Where is Frank?” sliouted Hal, the first 
oarsman. “Good Lord! We must search 
for him. He may be in the bottom of the 
lake by this time.” 


22 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


^^Not he/’ replied Surgeon Helm. “You 
might as well try to drown a duck. Be the 
waves ever so fierce he would ride upon 
them.” 

“Here, boys! Stand Eichard on his head, 
so as to let the water run out of his lungs. 
I can then perhaps pump them full of air. 
Down, now, on his back.” 

The surgeon, kneeling, began pressing 
upon his chest, alternately blowing into his 
mouth. 

“Quick, boys! Chafe his hands and feet, 
and call life back into them. He has not 
gone. He is only overcome by fear and 
those tough waves. Work lively, boys, but 
tenderly. He has good lungs and they 
must breathe again The breath of life.’ ” 

For a little time all was silence and 
anxious expectation. The roar without was 
growing still more intense. In this moment 
all was forgotten save Kichard, when Hal 
in the intensity of his own anxiety burst in 
upon the scene, perfectly unmindful of 
what was before him. “I tell you, boys, 
Frank w^ould have been a ^goneF if I had 
been half a second later.” Two of the boys 
sprang to catch Frank and lay him care* 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


23 


fully down, for he could not stand. He was 
as colorless as his outing suit of white, but 
he quickly revived. His first words were, 
^^There were no more, only these two, or I 
should have found them. As much of a 
duck as I am, and as familiar with this lake 
as I am, I have never seen it as to-day. So 
calm and beautiful when we started, and 
whipped into such madness in so short a 
time.’’ Frank had raised himself upon his 
elbow. 

^^How is the poor fellow, and who is he?” 

^^Richard Dent,” was the reply. 

“What! Not Richard Dent?” exclaimed 
Frank. “For God’s sake save him!” and he 
sprang to where the workers were. 

“That is easy to say,” replied Surgeon 
Helm. “You would better ask God your- 
self. We need His help; none other can 
save him.” 

“Oh, we cannot spare him,” Frank con- 
tinued. “College would not be college with- 
out Richard. He is everything to us,” he 
said, bending tenderly over him. 

“Stand back,” said Surgeon Helm, “I 
think he will be restored; give him breath- 
ing room. More air, open the door. His 


24 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


case is not hopeless, though an instant more 
beneath the waves would have finished 
him. Is there not a cottage close by, Hal, 
where we can get something for him to 
take that will warm him?’’ 

^^I’ll see,” said Hal, and he darted out of 
the door and flew to the nearest cottage, 
not far away, which belonged to the owner 
of the boathouse. 

He returned in less time than it takes to 
write, with the announcement, ‘^Temper- 
ance! Camphor was all I could get.” 

“A little of that will do,” said Helm. 
“Three drops in a spoonful of water will 
help him.” 

It was quickly prepared and poured 
down Richard’s open mouth. 

“Who can spare a wrap?” asked the sur- 
geon. “He lives, the noble fellow lives.” 

“We have not a dry rag,” said Jessie, 
our bright companion, who, during all the 
excitement, had not spoken a word. 

At the request for a wrap Hal started 
again, and swifter than before he returned 
with a huge bundle, saying, “Here are 
wraps for you all, Richard first. What is 
his condition now. Helm?” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


25 


“Better, still better,” replied Helm. 
“Hush! His lips move. The breath comes 
stronger now. He is spared to us, thank 
God.” 

“How is the girl?” asked the surgeon, 
looking toward her, having almost forgot- 
ten her in his anxiety for Richard. 

She was sitting up, leaning wearily 
against the motherly-looking “Duchess,” 
who was tenderly watching over her. 

“This is Miss Starbright from Cincinnati, 
a visitor for to-day at the camp on the other 
side of the lake. She is my daughter’s 
guest for the remainder of the season at 
Kaye’s Park,” said the “Duchess,” “and we 
cannot be thankful enough for her escape. 
Are you feeling better?” she asked, strok- 
ing with her palms Miss Starbright’s wet 
hair as if to dry it. The “Duchess’ ” beau- 
tiful daughter was kneeling close to her 
friend, perfectly white with fear, not yet 
overcome. She was chafing the cold hands 
in all the tender love of girl friendship. 

“Do not mind me,” replied Miss Star- 
bright faintly, “if only he, my friend, is 
alive!” 

At least two hours had been occupied in 


26 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


this anxious way and none had thought of 
the condition of things without until now. 
When they were assured no life was lost 
they began to speculate about getting 
home. 

The rowers found that it would be safe to 
fly the sails, though in every way the boat 
had been badly damaged, still it did not 
leak, and with right good wull they made 
ready for the homeward trip. By this time 
the wind had dropped to a dead calm, but 
the sullen roar of the waves sounded like 
the growl of a defeated foe. 


CHAPTER IT. 


It was the seventh night after the storm 
on the lake described in the preceding 
chapter that the merry-making at the Park 
ran unusually high. Youth never was 
gayer or more sparkling with resistless wit 
and fun. The events of that morning’s boat 
ride would never be forgotten by any one 
who had participated in its terrors and 
anxieties, nor would gratitude ever cease to 
live in the hearts of those who had so nar- 
rowly escaped death. What the sequel was 
to be they had yet to learn. The greatest 
events in our lives are ofttimes the result of 
less startling incidents, because Love is a 
busy archer. All times are his. 

The story of their peril had been told 
over and over, and over again, by those who 
had witnessed it, until it was quite doubt- 
ful how much coloring it had gained, since 
there was sufficient of the tragic to build 
upon. 

On this evening dancing was the order, 

27 


28 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


and feet never flew faster or more tire- 
lessly. It was enough for me to sit and 
look on to catch the joy-tones and words 
of love that fell on my ears as some of the 
gay couples whirled by me. ^^Thou art my 
life,” in softened tones. Of course, they 
might have been the words of a waltz song! 
I smiled, for who does not love lovers? 
Just then I heard, ^‘How fair thou art;” 
^hnine forever;” ‘^a cot in the valley for us 
two.” And many were the swiftly flowing 
sentiments as the ceaseless whirl went on. 

O youth, how beautiful art thou! Why 
shouldst thou ever fade? Why should 
woman lose her charm and man his glo- 
rious power? Is there no fountain of per- 
petual youth? If God is to-day and forever 
the same, then there can be no age in God. 
The earth is renewed perpetuall3\ Then 
why not man? Surely the source of his 
being must contain the secret, for every 
aspiration of the human heart must be a 
promise that the answer awaits the dis- 
coverer, and but foreshadows an eternal 
truth. 

The night w^as very warm and my com- 
panion and I left the busy throng for a 


T'HY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


29 


seat in the cool retreat at the water^s edge. 
It is strange how lovers seek seclusion. 
We thought we should be alone, but we 
could turn in no direction without meeting 
other couples bent upon the same errand. 

We had been seated but a few minutes 
and were quite in a shadow when two girls 
entered, and, thinking themselves alone, 
spoke freely. We realized ourselves to be 
in the uncomfortable position of catching 
secret whispers, and were meditating a 
bold escape when they left the arbor, but 
not until they had given another picture of 
the dancers. 

“Julius Whiting is just madly in love 
with Jessie Dunkirk,” said one. 

“She don^t care much for him evidently,” 
said her companion. “It is no wonder that 
he complains that she is too provokingly 
charming for anything. She is just as sweet 
to one as to another, and accepts the atten- 
tion of one with as much grace as that of 
another. She is beautiful. I don’t believe, 
though, that Mr. Whiting will ever win her, 
because of his accursed inheritance, selfish- 
ness. Any girl if she wasn’t a fool would 
see that,” said Zella Starbright’s compan- 
ion. 


thy brother LEONIDAS. 


3<5 

''My philosophy,” said Zella, "does not 
permit of wholesale criticism. I believe in 
Divine ruling and that true love guides in 
safety.” 

"And I, too,” said Kichard Dent, who had 
come suddenly upon them. 

"And that is why we find ourselves to- 
gether to-night,” and, taking her arm, he 
added, "I would give more for one wise sen- 
tence from your lips, Zella, than for all that 
could be bestowed upon me by Jessie, 
whom you admire so much. She is foolish, 
really a child in mentality, whilst you al- 
ways speak like an oracle.” 

"Do you think you will always speak to 
me in that way, Eichard, and that after we 
are married and living quietly by ourselves 
that you will rely upon my word and trust 
me absolutely? I have scant beauty you 
know, and beauty seems to be a ruling 
power that you men easily succumb to.” 

"You should not say succumb to, Zella.” 

"Yes, I repeat succumb to, Kichard, be- 
cause your sex seems to lack stability, or 
fixedness of purpose. Many a life is to-day 
wrecked upon a sweet pledge of devotion 
given to pure and trusting womanhood, 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 3 1 

that has been broken, if not before, a few 
months after marriage. To marry for love, 
as it seems to be known to-day, is to marry 
for position, a home, or some one to take 
you out evenings, a sort of respectable tag 
by which to claim proper attention, a safe- 
guard for a young woman in dark nights 
and lonely places.” 

^%lla, this may appear true; but it is 
the wrecked and the wreckers that the 
world hears most about. There are thou- 
sands of true and faithful hearts like my 
own that walk in sweet companionship 
with such as you. It is your goodness, 
Zella, that wins me, and will bind me for- 
ever to you. I need no other love but 
yours to guide me through any darkness, to 
save me from temptations such as many a 
poor fellow has been driven into just for 
the want of a true heart in which to trust.” 

Zella’s companion, Susie Clay, had 
skipped out as Kichard entered, but here 
the conversation was interrupted by two 
girls rushing into the summer-house, 
wholly unmindful of the presence of 
others. 

Jessie, you are shamefully mean to 


32 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Julius Wliiting. He loves you, one can’t 
help seeing that sometimes you hardly 
treat him decently, and you are always in- 
different to him.” 

“Well,” replied Jessie with spirit, “I 
don’t want to be bothered talking to any 
one person all the time. I like everybody 
and almost everything, but my freedom 
best of all. I have been bound to books 
long enough. I am free now from them. I 
am determined to have a good time and no 
one shall hinder me, not even Julius Whit- 
ing.” 

“Why, Jess, you don’t look as if it 
troubled you that much to have him atten- 
tive to you; some would think you were en- 
joying it.” 

“Well, I am not, Fannie, and I have just 
come away to scold a little to you, and to 
get a breath of fresh air. Now I can go 
back and smile on everybody, and feel good, 
too, for I have let out all the meanness his 
disagreeable attentions caused in me.” 

“Is that the way you keep amiable?” 
asked a masculine voice close by. “Maybe 
it’s a good way, but I am getting a glimpse 
of human nature here that will be profit- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


33 


able to me/’ said Julius Whiting, who had 
entered unnoticed. 

Jessie was so startled at his appearance 
that she turned scarlet under the conflict- 
ing emotions of fear and indignation; fear 
lest he had heard all she had said, and in- 
dignation at his persistence in following 
her. Then, with girlish impulsiveness, her 
indignation burst forth: 

^Wou have unwarrantedly surprised us, 
Mr. Whiting, and I shall not soon forgive 
you.” 

did not hear much of your conversa- 
tion, Miss Dunkirk, but your voice is music 
to me,” replied Julius. 

This last remark quite reassured Jessie, 
but she said to herself with vexation, 
^^Good enough for him if he heard it all.” 

have come to claim your company for 
the next dance. Miss Dunkirk. May I have 
the pleasure?” asked Julius obsequiously. 

In a pettish manner Jessie answered, 
am promised for the rest of the evening,” 
and she glanced at him to see how her 
words affected him. 

^^Hang it,” said Julius, feel like shoot- 
ing some of these fellows that have got in 


34 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


ahead of me. I don’t see how they manage 
to succeed when I fail.” 

‘^Nor I,” mischievously replied Jessie, _ 
her good nature returning. “I am engaged 
to dance no more. My mother wishes me to 
keep quiet.” 

^^Then I shall dance no more,” replied 
Julius. 

“Oh, dear,” exclaimed Jessie, giving her 
friend a nudge, “you would better go and 
dance with the other girls. They will be 
awfully disappointed if you don’t. Fannie 
and I want a little privacy.” 

“Then I hope you will pardon my in- 
trusion,” said Julius. He turned quickly 
and walked toward the lake, jumping into 
a boat. He pushed off from the shore as 
though in anger. The oars beat quickly 
against the water and he was soon lost in 
the deep shadows of the night. 

“I am afraid you have hurt his feelings, 
Jess,” said Fannie. 

“Well, it’s not worse for him than for me. 
I am so annoyed with his presence. I 
might like him if I didn’t see so plainly 
that he is dying to have me. It was the 
same way with Frank Dayton. I came very 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


35 


near falling in love with him, but he was so 
attentive he spoiled it all. He understood 
my suggestions better than Mr. Whiting 
seems to, and finally turned to the next 
new face. What fools boys make of them- 
selves when they think they are in love. It 
is seldom more than a mad fancy. They 
are infatuated with their own thoughts 
that they are in love with such or such an 
one, and then awaken suddenly to find it 
was only a fancy. It’s a kind of measles, 
very contagious, too. Deliver me from the 
measles.” 

“I’m glad he’s gone.” 

“What a girl you are, Jess.” 

“Well, I will be free anyhow,” replied 
Jessie. “Let’s go up and see how the 
dancers are getting on. I can breathe now 
that I am free from his persecutions. I 
hope he vron’t come back to-night.” 

“He may never come back,” suggested 
Fannie. 

“I hope he won’t,” replied Jessie, “but I 
am sure there is no such good news as that 
for me.” 

As the two girls reached the pavilion the 
Virginia Keel had just been called for. 


36 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

Fannie/’ said Jessie, catching the 
spirit of the dance, am engaged to you 
for this reel. I love it. It just suits my 
spirit.” 

^^Would you dance, Jess, after telling Mr. 
Whiting you were engaged to your mother 
not to dance for the rest of the evening?” 

^W^hy, yes,” replied Jessie, in a spirited 
way, made the mental reservation that 
I was engaged to myself and that is to do 
just as I want to, to dance or not to dance.” 

^^Then please excuse me, Jessie.” 

^^All right then, Fannie, I accept the first 
man that comes along. There are three 
coming now.” 

Jessie, Fll dance with you rather 
than have you dance with any one else 
after having excused yourself as you have.” 

“Come then, we’ll have a good time,” and 
away they flew, but had reached only the 
center of the room when they were arrested 
by loud cries. 

“Fire, fire!” screamed several voices all 
at once. 

The scene w^as now all wild confusion. 
The dance was forgotten. Flames were 
seen bursting from the windows and 
through the roof of the kitchen. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


37 


“What has happened? How could there 
be a fire with dinner over so long?” 

There was great fright, confusion and 
uproar until it was found there was more 
smoke than fire. 

The result was a regular smudge, and 
the guests as well as proprietor having 
feared the worst, had pulled things out in 
wild disorder, hoping to sav^e them. The 
grounds w’^ere filled with trunks and other 
movables, and there being no wind black- 
ness settled down everywhere, saturating 
everything and filling every place with 
smoke. 

“Such is life,” cried out the familiar voice 
of Julius, who had not gone so far from the 
scene as his desperate manner had sug- 
gested that he meant to do, but had been 
hugging the shore, and, in the shadows, 
stealing close as if to keep watch and see 
whether Jessie “danced with any other fel- 
low” or not. 

“Such is life,” he again repeated, “either 
enticing pleasure, or the smoke of disap- 
pointment, — and I don’t like smoke.” 


CHAPTEE III. 


As the public steamer drew up to the 
pier of Kaye’s Park the next morning the 
whistle sounded unusually sharp and im- 
perative, or so the young ladies thought, 
for they had heard while at breakfast that 
Eichard Dent had been hastily called home 
to Louisville on some sad errand. 

He was held in such high esteem by all 
the company of the Park that even aside 
from the sadness of the tidings that called 
him there was real regret in the faces and 
voices of all present. 

Susie Clay, the great-granddaughter of 
the renowned Henry Clay, was more tender 
in her manner and more impressive than 
usual, and peculiarly silent as the steamer 
moved away. Indeed, all the morning her 
changed manner was so noticeable that it 
inspired a few whispers concerning herself 
and young Dent. “Are they lovers?” asked 
not a few. 

For the time a general sense of depres- 

38 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


39 


sion had fallen upon all. They talked of 
the fire, the smoke, the mosquitoes, and 
even of their narrow escape from drown- 
ing when they had taken that momentous 
morning sail, and of Kichard’s miraculous 
escape. Eichard Dent was one of those 
quiet, self-masterful youug men to whom 
all naturally pay respect. Though a man of 
few words, he impressed one with the 
thought that life is worth living, and made 
one feel a certain self respect and desire to 
show his best and think his best when with 
such an one. I was never more impressed 
than when in his presence with the truth of 
Emerson^s words that ^^Virtue or vice emits 
a breath every instant.” 

He was tall, broad-shouldered, broad- 
browed, with dark, deep, earnest eyes that 
rested one to look into. He was soul- 
poised, stalwart, yet gentle in his touch as 
a woman. His hands even seemed inspired 
to do only good and kindly deeds for others. 
No one knew much of him, save that he was 
from Louisville, and one of the college 
boys. He had come for a season’s recrea- 
tion to our beautiful Lake Geneva. He 
was a guest at the hotel, but he was his own 


40 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


letter of introduction, and needed no other. 
He had not been a day at the Park before 
all the children loved him, and their elders 
were drawn to him. Beyond all the other 
visitors he was helpful wherever he was. 
The children welcomed him, for he entered 
into their sports, played Jacks, spun their 
tops, and new-tailed their kites. The 
mothers trusted him, for they were per- 
fectly confident that their daughters would 
receive considerate care, and the fathers 
found him a wise and interesting compan- 
ion. He was afraid of nothing. No one 
could see that he was more marked in his 
attentions to one young lady than to an- 
other, unless it was Miss Starbright. He 
was kindly respectful toward all. So it was 
lonely this morning when they realized 
that he had gone, until Jessie proposed ask- 
ing Professor Scales to give them a lesson 
under the pavilion and allow the girls to 
bring their embroidery. 

“And what will the boys do?” asked 
Julius Whiting. 

“Do what they like,” she replied gaily. 
“You can swing in the hammocks or lounge 
about the pavilion. I am sure you would 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


41 


not be far from the spot where we girls are, 
even if we had not the attraction of the 
learned professor ” 

“Oh, don’t give us any more book learn- 
ing,” said Frank Dayton, “we have had 
enough of that in college and feel all stuffy 
with it now.” 

“But,” said Zella Starbright, “the pro- 
fessor’s lectures are from life; they are ex- 
ceedingly entertaining as w^ell as instruc- 
tive, and you would enjoy hearing them. I, 
with Jessie, wdsh the professor would favor 
us this morning. Let us go and find him 
and make our request.” 

“I think it is a very bold thing to do, and 
that we are asking a great deal of a pro- 
fessional man who has come out here for 
rest and pleasure in calling him to tell us 
all he knows,” said Fannie Davenport. 
“For my part, I don’t like stupid things, 
and lectures are the stupidest of all.” 

“You are mightily mistaken if you think 
Professor Scales’ lectures are stupid,” said 
Surgeon Helm. “He is the most fascinating 
person, man or woman, that I ever listened 
to. You forget to be hungry. He has such 
a wonderful way of teaching that to hear 


42 


thy brother LEONIDAS. 


his lectures is more like listening to stories 
than to anything else.” 

At this unusual laudation, Fannie, who 
had been quite captivated by Surgeon 
Helm, said, wonder if he knows how to 
give a lecture on love? ThaFs the only 
thing I should be interested in this morn- 
ing,” and she cast a coquettish glance at 
Surgeon Helm, pursing up her rosy lips 
temptingly. Then her face quickly changed 
into an expression of serious thoughtful- 
ness. 

Fannie was one of those wild, impulsive 
girls, caring for nothing but a butterfly 
life. Petted, spoiled by her parents, in- 
dulged in every whim and caprice, all too 
easily intoxicated with pleasure her par- 
ents asked for nothing more from her than 
a return of that fond and selfish love, so 
harmony-destroying as well as life-destroy- 
ing to every human being. 

At this moment the professor, with a girl 
on each arm, came up and said, ‘^Captured 
you see,” addressing the “Duchess.” “But 
when by two such nice girls as these, one 
rather enjoys captivity.” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


43 


The ^^Duchess” smiled a ready welcome. 

have heard it suggested,” she said, ^^that 
you give us a lecture on Love this morning. 
True Love, of course, was meant,” she 
added, looking at Fannie significantly. 

“ ‘All the world loves lovers,’ Emerson 
says,” replied the professor. “Why should 
they not love love then? It is the sweetest 
thing in all the world, and the greatest 
power. I will try and tell you something 
about it in some one of its many phases, for 

All love is eternal, pure, sublime. 

And lasts through the cycles of coming time. 

“Come, girls, since you insist, I can- 
not resist. I feel in a gracious mood this 
morning,” he continued, as they all came 
flocking to the pavilion, and when they 
were seated he began: 

“I will tell you an out-of-door story. One 
that was told me by a friend of mine who 
is a great lover of nature and of all living 
things. 

“The power of love, under this circum- 
stance of my friend’s life, was a great reve- 
lation to him, and caused him to give up 
the use of his rifle. He was a passionate 


44 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

lover of hunting, and always in his mid- 
summer vacation sought the forest, or 
some lake region where game was most 
abundant. 

“One day when on one of these excur- 
sions he was in the region of Clear Creek 
Valley, not far from Black Haw k City, at a 
point in Colorado, seven thousand feet 
above the sea level. There came up a great 
thunder storm. He sought shelter be- 
neath a mountain cedar and laid himself 
down on the ground. The blinding flashes 
of forked lightning hurling to the ground 
great trees in its fury; the fierce crashing 
peals of thunder; the altitude; the utter 
loneliness of the place, all tended to stir 
thought to its very deeps and suggested to 
the man’s mind the thought fls God a God 
of love or a God of hate? Does He indulge 
in this fierce play of power to please Him- 
self and to terrify His creatures?’ He was 
lost in doubt. A sense of grieving for the 
destruction all about him; of beauty de- 
stroyed, and thus destroyed, came upon 
him. Then the thought came to him, how 


THY brother LEONtDAS, 45 

could man love life better than He who 
gave it? 

“A sensitive by nature, he felt deeply 
and keenly, not alone the shock of the 
storm, the devastation around him, but the 
power, compared with which his own was 
as a feather^s weight. His whole being was 
roused by the play of the forces around him, 
causing a conflict of the forces within. 
While the tragedy of the storm was in full 
play a sweet little drama commenced in 
the tree under which he lay. A small black 
squirrel began springing from bough to 
bough above his head, as though trusting 
its Creator so completely it could know no 
fear. The watcher noted the utter abandon 
of its playfulness, and it had a soothing ef- 
fect upon him as he watched it in eager de- 
light, noting the perfect grace and sym- 
metry of the little creature and wondering 
if he was himself observed. He did not stir 
lest he startle it, but lay thinking deeply 
upon the relation of this little life to his 
own. Tt has life. I have life. Is there 
more than one source of life? If but one 
source, then only one life. If but one life 


46 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


then there is but one law concerning that 
life. There is then but one love and all 
living things must be responsive to love.” 
— all in the same proportion as I respond. 

“Gradually his thought took positive 
form, and directly he put his thought into 
action, first in silence, and then softly say- 
ing aloud, ^Little squirrel, you dear little 
creature, I love you. Come down here, 
little black squirrel, come and see me. 
Come and play on my hand,’ and quietly 
taking the meat of a nut from his pocket he 
held it out in his hand, repeating softly, 
^Come down here, littl^ black squirrel. 
Come, I love you. Come and eat out of my 
hand.’ He kept perfectly still for a few 
seconds, holding the thought of love for 
the little life there expressed, when to his 
great delight and in answer to his thought 
the squirrel came springing timidly down, 
nearer and nearer, settling on a drooping 
branch, there resting for an instant, and 
then leaped right on to his hand. 

“He was almost breathless with surprise, 
as he thought of the power that had won 
this wild, little creature from its forest 
home to feed from a human hand. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


47 


^^Think you that my friend could ever 
again use a weapon against the life which 
this experience taught him was the same 
as his own and that of all living things? 

^^His thoughts were set quickly to work 
in a new direction. He kept very still, 
thrilled with the thought of the power of 
love. He watched every movement of the 
squirrel, and made no attempt to detain 
him lest he lose his power over him and so 
frighten him away. 

‘When the nut was eaten the squirrel 
sprang without fear to the branch and was 
lost sight of in the thick foliage of the tree. 

“Almost immediately a little vireo ap- 
peared in the branches. It is said to be a 
very shy bird. The young man^s experi- 
ence had been so remarkable with the black 
squirrel that he thought he would make an 
attempt to woo the bird, but not with any 
expectation of such a favorable result as 
that obtained before. 

“ ‘Come,’ he said, ‘little love-life. Come, 
little vireo, and light on my finger.’ He 
was growing bold in his love making, you 
see. ‘Come, I love you, love you, beauti- 
ful creature. I will not harm a feather in 


48 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

your lovely coat. Come down here. Do 
you see my gun resting against the tree? 
I love it, hut I love you better, and I will 
not touch it if only you will come, sweet 
love, sweet bird, and tell me by your com- 
ing that you love and trust me.’ 

“Down came the little vireo and my 
friend’s hand trembled with delight as the 
dainty thing bore him this revelation, this 
message of Truth, that ^all pure love is re- 
sponsive,’ and with it came the thought 
that anything less must bring its disas- 
trous results. 

“This subject, the power of love, has been 
an intensely interesting study to me since 
my friend’s revelation, and I must say of 
much profit.” 

As the professor uttered these words the 
Eev. Mr. Sevor, who had joined them, but 
too late to hear the story of the black 
squirrel, hitched uneasily in his chair as 
much as to say, “well, you’ll never see the 
day when the world will be ruled by love.” 

His fingers clutched his gold-headed cane 
that he was never seen without, carrying it 
as an acknowledged badge of honor. There 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


49 


was quite a story inscribed upon this cane 
that we have not time for here, as living 
characters are more interesting to the 
writer than any monumental tablets of 
past honors. 

Mr. Sevor^s appearance was not at all in- 
spiring, whether in the pulpit or out, and 
one felt a shadowy chill in his presence, a 
presence that certainly did not attract to 
him either youth or age, and it was little 
wonder that his congregations were small 
and his influence in the parish no greater. 

Why he was the guest of the ^^Duchess’^ 
and her husband was not easily guessed. 
Some one said the men were boys together, 
but certainly they were far apart now in 
appearance, character and theology. Mr. 
Sevor seemed entirely out of place in the 
gay surroundings of the Park. He had a 
supercilious suavity of manner that was 
most distasteful to all. 

^^How does my suggestion of the redeem- 
ing power of love agree with your thought, 
Mr. Sevor^^ asked the professor. 'Wou see 
I have had an attentive audience this morn- 
ing, and I hope I have made it sufficiently 


50 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

interesting to be invited some other fine 
day to lecture again, for my best lessons are 
such as I learn with the youth of both 
sexes. I live again in their pleasures, and 
would that they could have the advantage 
of my experience. It would save them from 
many a pitfall into which the unthinking 
unknowingly plunge. 

^^But I know well that youth seeks to ex- 
plore, and that experience is its only 
teacher, 

‘And with ambitious feet, secure and proud, 

Ascends the ladder leaning on the cloud!’ 

What say you, Mr. Sevor?” 

have not heard your argument in 
favor of love, but I must confess,” was the 
cold reply of Mr. Sevor, ^^that I believe 
much in the use of the rod. ^Spare the rod 
and spoil the child’ has always been my 
rule in life. I believe the rod is quite as 
effective, I think much more so, and 
quicker in results.” 

“Yet I see, Mr. Sevor,” gently replied the 
professor, “you have been captured by it 
more than once. Will you allow me to 
escort your captor to the house?” and turn- 
ing to Mrs. Sevor he offered her his arm, 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


51 


then turning again to his audience he said, 
have kept you a long time this morning 
in the contemplation of this wonderful 
power, that I must say my attention was 
first seriously called to through my friend’s 
story. It is a subject, I believe, so few have 
earnestly considered, and concerning which 
fewer still have had revelations. 

“I can never foyget the shy little vireo, 
allured from its perch by the power of 
love.” 

The lunch bell having sounded, the com- 
pany quietly sought the dining hall, but 
Julius Whiting was heard to say, devil 
of a time a fellow would have if he let love 
rule him.” 


CHAPTEE IV. 


While at lunch I heard Zella say, “Pro- 
fessor Scales, you have intensely interested 
me to-day and set me thinking in an en- 
tirely new direction, and I may not be able 
to work out my problems without further 
assistance.” 

“The professor has promised to give us 
another talk some bright morning, and I 
think iPs just charming that he is willing,” 
said Jessie, “and if it is anything like to- 
day’s lecture we shall not forget this year 
at Lake Geneva. I have spent all of my 
summers here since I was a child, and have 
almost starved for some interesting subject 
to think about.” 

“I thank you,” said Professor Scales, 
turning to the lovely speaker. “I feel 
happy to have had such a gracious audi- 
ence as I had to-day, and while young men 
are less demonstrative, possibly not always 
as appreciative as young ladies, I noticed I 
had some attentive ears among them this 

52 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


53 


morning, and shall hope that the impres- 
sions made will be lasting.’’ 

^^Oh, here’s the steamer coming,” shouted 
Fannie Davenport joyfully. ^^Let’s all take 
a ride; the boys are all going to Geneva and 
we never feel the heat on the steamer.” 

^What says the Duchess?” asked the pro- 
fessor, turning to Jessie’s mother. ^‘Shall I 
escort her daughter and Miss Starbright?” 

^^The Duchess consents providing Mrs. 
Professor remains to keep her company, 
for she believes in them both.” 

Jessie’s mother had met them at the door 
as they were leaving the dining hall, she on 
her Tvay to her room for her afternoon 
siesta, wondering when these young people 
would ever have their fill of pleasure. She 
was so far inland from the shores of girl- 
hood that she had forgotten that Jessie’s 
life was but a newer expression of her own 
youth. 

Well started on the trip, the two girls 
found themselves in the saloon of the 
steamer with Professor Scales. Zella asked 
him abruptly: 

^^Do you not think there are natures too 
deeply steeped in sin to respond to the in- 


54 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


fluence of love? You impressed me that 
you thought it possible to redeem the worst 
of criminals. The thought to me is new. I 
can hardly grasp it. Yet something within 
me seems to bear witness that it is possible. 
How glorious life would be if we lived in a 
world where there was mutual love and 
trust.” 

cannot help believing,” replied Pro- 
fessor Scales, ^That God rules in love, 
though I must confess that evil seems 
sometimes to be paramount. 

“Love is a magnet. What but love could 

Hold all the starry worlds in their places? 

What, but this strongest magnetic power? 
If that be so, then love must be the ruling 
power in all the worlds. 

“You ask if there are not natures so 
deeply steeped in sin that they cannot be 
redeemed; if we grant that nature is God’s 
manifestation, which I find none to refute, 
it is an acknowledgment that the Divine 
Spark is within every human being; a 
spark of Omnipotence. A spark it must be 
then of undying fire; undying life. If un- 
dying, then it can with help be kindled into 
a flame that shall consume all but itself. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. ' 


55 


To be natural, then, is to be religious. I 
claim all. nature to be God made manifest. 
It is divine wisdom and love in manifesta- 
tion. It may be touched by that same sub- 
stance in another.” 

^^Ah! I see your goint. Some one who 
knows his own God-nature may touch the 
same in another,” said Zella. 

Just then the steamer stopped at a pri- 
vate pier, where a half dozen college boys 
and as many sweet-faced young girls, full 
of shouts and laughter, came on, bringing 
with them such a spirit of hilarity that all 
opportunity for serious converse was at an 
end for a time. 

At Geneva, where the young men took 
the train, there awaited a larger party that 
soon crowded the boat, among whom were 
many notables, all bound for the Lake. 

Conspicuous among them was a group of 
eight or ten Australians. One of these was 
Mr. Leo Carper, the son of a wealthy mer- 
chant. He had come to this country as a 
representative of a large syndicate of West- 
ern land owners. Mr. Carper had been per- 
suaded by his acquaintance, Frank Dayton, 
to visit Lake Geneva, where, he was told. 


56 


thy brother LEONIDAS. 


he would be introduced to many lovely 
girls. 

No one could have wished for a prettier 
reception than this impromptu one proved 
to be. This young man and his country- 
men were delighted with the honors shown 
them. 

Mr. Carper was a dashing looking, impul- 
sive young man, neither perfect in form nor 
face, yet possessed of a personal appear- 
ance that could not be passed unnoticed. 
I doubt if most business men would have 
considered him a suitable person with 
whom to intrust large interests. He im- 
pressed one rather as being the habitue of 
drawing-room circles. He had his valet 
with him, as did also another of the party, 
a man somewhat his senior and of an en- 
tirely different type, also a gentleman and 
a scholar, and to whom Mr. Carper deferred 
with much respect. 

As Zella looked upon the party after the 
introductions were over, she unconsciously 
heaved a sigh, and said to herself ^^our 
lovely times are over.” Jessie, on the con- 
trary, whispered in Zella’s ear, ^^more fun 
now, and broader friendships for us from 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. ' 


57 


this boat-load. Who can tell which one of 
us girls Mr. Carper will make love to, and 
take away with him to Australia?” 

‘^Hush! Jessie, that does not soupd one 
bit like you, but rather like Fannie Daven- 
port.” 

thank you, Zella, you are always say- 
ing things to keep me up to my level best. 
I wouldn’t disappoint you for anything. I 
confess that as soon as the words came out 
of my mouth I knew you would not approve 
of them, and your approbation is more to 
me than you can think. But don’t you 
know, Zella, that it is a great deal easier 
to be careless of our words than careful? 
And I have many times found out what 
mischief careless words v/ill do.” 

have learned, Jessie, that beautiful 
message in Arnold’s Light of Asia, 

‘Guard thy lips as they were palace doors, the king 
within,’ 

and I know its benefits if heeded.” 

^ Where did you get that chain?” asked 
Jessie, turning suddenly, and lifting Zella’s 
chain in her fingers. “It’s a very peculiar 
thing, and I have many times meant to ask 


58 , THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

you about it. It is so curiously wrought. It 
looks as though it must have cost a great 
price.” 

^‘I think it did, Jessie. It has a history 
which I may tell you some time.” 

^Were you born in Australia, Zella?” 
asked Jessie. 

^^Yes. But here we are at the Park, and 
it is time to dress for dinner. Some other 
time I will tell you more.” 

“But I can^t wait, Zella. You have ex- 
cited my curiosity, and I shall not be able 
to sleep well until you tell me more.” 

Just then Julius Whiting appeared un- 
expectedly at Jessie’s side, and whispered, 
“Now, Jess, there are a lot of new beaux in 
this boat-load, and I want you to promise 
me that you will let me be your escort on 
all of our excursions, and also that you will 
not let your head be turned by any of these 
foreigners.” 

“Mr. Whiting,” replied Jessie, reddening 
with annoyance, “you are presuming very 
much. ^Our excursions!’ I fail to see why 
you say ^our excursions!’ You speak as 
though you were expecting to be my escort 
on all occasions. I am, as you have heard 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


59 


me declare before, determined to be free, 
and as determined to enjoy my freedom. 
This is not the time, nor have you any right, 
to address me in this manner. I am hot and 
tired and decidedly disagreeable. I shall 
fall in love when I get ready, and with 
whom I please. Not even the ^Duchess’ can 
rule me there. I bid you good evening, Mr. 
Whiting. I would advise you to give your 
hand and heart to the one that wants them, 
and that’s not I,” said Jessie in a vexed 
manner. 

Thus scorned, Julius Whiting turned 
away from Jessie’s side, looking around 
upon those near by, fearing that some one 
might have heard Jessie’s remarks, or no- 
ticed her manner toward him, for condem- 
nation makes cowards of us all, in which 
condition fear rules to our disparagement. 

Jessie, in the heat of annoyance, rushed 
to her room, threw herself on the bed, and 
burst into tears,, tears of indignation. 
Then, suddenly springing up, she said 
aloud, wish Julius Whiting was at the 
bottom of the lake, he annoys me so.” 
Going to the mirror she looked intently at 
her reflection and said, don’t see what in 


6o 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


the world he finds in me to admire. I have 
altogether too much color. I am really too 
healthy looking to be idealistic. My nose 
is not classic. I am sure my figure is not 
tall enough for required elegance. I am 
far from being a Hebe, and unless he is a 
money hunter he could find nothing in me 
to attract him, according to my reck- 
oning. There are plenty of sweet, lovely, 
yes, beautiful girls here at Geneva who 
would give anything for his attentions. I 
wonder if I couldnT set a trap for him?” 
and she laughed. Then becoming more 
serious added, will not have him follow- 
ing me like a shadow any longer.” 

How insensible most girls are to their 
own attractions, and how unconscious of 
the power they possess. If only they knew 
how pleasing every natural movement and 
heartfelt expression is they would hold 
themselves worthy of earnest winning, in- 
stead of throwing themselves away with 
the first opportunity, as many do. 

Jessie donned a dainty white India mull 
gown, without the least ornamentation ex- 
cept lace, and as she came dowm the stairs 
I thought, you bewitching creature, do 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


6l 


you not know this simple array in white has 
thrown out in strong relief your beauty? 
Why, it makes the diamonds that are over- 
loading those about you to pale in your 
presence. The bloom of maidenhood, the 
glory of rippling hair in its freedom, the 
broad brow, indicating power, the dimpled 
hands, the whiteness of the flesh, all are so 
ravishingly beautiful, while the possessor- 
is so unconscious of them. Yet the while 
she may be possibly looking with envy 
upon her neighbor not half so fair as she.” 

O beautiful youth, how fortunate that 
it is thus; else vanity would rob thee of all 
thy charms. Naturalness is grace and love- 
liness, whether found in youth or age. 
There is no greater charm. It wins all 
hearts and rules where studied art fails. 

The dining hall presented a new appear- 
ance to-night. Mine host, the landlord, had 
indeed exerted himself to make his hostelry 
attractive to the new comers. The decora- 
tions of flowers and evergreens formed a 
picturesque setting for the guests in their 
handsome evening dress grouped around 
the tables. 

There was much staring and many sly 


62 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


glances at the strangers during the dinner. 
Later on in the drawing room there had 
been general introductions and the usual 
pairing off into couples, as is natural under 
such circumstances. Jessie was seen lean- 
ing on the arm of Mr. Leo. Carper, the 
first-named Australian, and was certainly 
as beautiful and attractive as a girl could 
be. Many eyes, some growing green with 
jealousy, were fastened upon her, as she 
chatted in her free, artless manner, with 
this son of the merchant prince. 

Julius Whiting, skulked in sullenness on 
the outskirts of the company, and when the 
music began at the pavilion, drawing 
thither all the younger portion of the vis- 
itors, and he saw Jessie in the dance with 
the graceful stranger, he again rushed 
madly down to the lake, jumped into his 
boat and, with a swift plash of the oars, 
was borne out into the darkness, none 
knew whither. He was not seen again that 
night. 


CHAPTER V. 


I doubt if a summer season at any resort 
could have been gayer, or the visitors more 
desperately determined on pleasure, than 
at Lake Geneva in the summer of 1880. Of 
course, the new arrivals crowded the Park, 
and there was less quiet than before, and I 
must confess much more studying of toilets 
by all the girls. 

There was no scheme or place for enjoy- 
ment that did not include Jessie and Mr, 
Carper, as first and foremost. The whole 
party of Australians observed with seem- 
ing pride that Mr. Carper was likely to bear 
away with him the heart if not the person 
of Jessie Dunkirk. Mr. Francis Drake, the 
second member in importance of that group 
of strangers, from the very first introduc- 
tion, seemed more pleased with Miss Star- 
bright than with any one else. Possibly he 
was attracted by her gravity, her serene 
and thoughtful appearance. He was him- 
self rather reserved in manner, and while 

63 


64 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


he did not in the least repel one, he was not 
magnetic, and the young ladies kept some- 
what aloof from him. 

heard you say. Miss Starbright, that 
you were born in Australia, did I not?^’ 
asked Mr. Drake one evening as he sat be- 
side Zella. 

^^Yes,” she sweetly replied, “in Mel- 
bourne. But I came away from there at so 
early an age that only a few things were 
deeply imprinted upon my memory. I am 
so glad to know that you came from my 
birthplace, for I have never before been 
fortunate enough to meet any one from 
there, and I hope you will not tire of telling 
me of it.” 

“May I ask you,” said Mr. Drake, “to tell 
me some of the impressions made upon 
your child-memory, and may I ask how you 
happened to come to America?” 

“The last question I can only answer by 
saying I do not know. I came with my 
father and mother, and remember being on 
a sailing vessel. I never can forget how de- 
lighted I was with the sailors, and how they 
looked like little specks as they climbed 
the rope ladder up the masts, and how they 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 65 

petted me and how they sometimes carried 
me up very high and brought me down in 
safety. I remember, too, seeing great 
whales spout water, and wondered why the 
people were afraid when they saw them 
coming toward us. But I do not remember 
much that happened directly after our ar- 
rival in this country.” 

Mr. Drake was deeply interested. ^What 
do you recall of your childhood home in 
Australia?” he asked with gentle persist- 
ency. Can you describe it to me?” 

“It seems to me now, if I had only known 
that I w^as not going back, things and 
events w’^ould have been stamped more 
clearly in my mind. I remember what an 
immense place it looked to me then. I can 
only think now of a castle, but children’s 
impressions you know are usually exag- 
gerations. I was only a little thing, and 
loved everybody and everybody loved me, 
it seems to me. They let me do just as I 
liked, and I was never in anybody’s way,” 
said Zella, with a little pathetic cadence in 
her voice. 

“I remember there were a great many 
maids and men engaged in and about 


66 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


the home. I was a happy, happy child, and 
I do not remember much else excepting 
how happy I was. Everything was so beau- 
tiful around me, and the rooms so large, 
and I was never alone. I remember, too, a 
dear old colored man. I remember him be- 
cause he used to tote me everywhere on his 
shoulder, and he would take me on horse- 
back or to row in the boat whenever I 
asked him. His name was Victor. I do 
not know what his position in the home 
was. I only know that I love him now, as 
I remember him. 

^^One dark day my father came in, and 
taking my mother on his knee, began talk- 
ing earnestly to her. I heard him sa}", ^We 
have to go away and leave our beautiful 
home.’ My mother was softly crying. He 
soothed and petted her, and described a 
new country where he would take her, and 
build there a new home. I suppose that 
new country was America, and yet I do not 
know, for a child remembers only a few out 
of many events in its young life. 

“I remember, too, that while I was so 
happy on the vessel my mother was very 
sad, and very ill, and that my father was 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS.' 


67 


with her most of the time, so that I was 
free with my nurse to do as I liked, and the 
thing I tried hardest to do was to climb the 
masts. The sailors would put me up a few 
steps and help me to jump down. After a 
long time we left the vessel and were in a 
large house with many people. It must 
have been a hotel in some sea-coast city, 
possibly New York. One day they told me 
my mother was dead, and then my father 
was not one bit as he had been in Aus- 
tralia. Then, after a while, I was placed in 
a convent at school, and I never saw him 
again. 

^The Sisters were very kind to me. They 
said I cried a great deal. I was so lonesome, 
and everything was so changed, with no 
mother and no father. Then one day when 
I had grown much larger, I do not remem- 
ber just how long it was after I had entered 
the convent, they told me my father was 
dead. When or how he died I never knew. 

“I was at the convent until I was eigh- 
teen. It had become a sweet home to me. 
I was happy and contented and supposed 
I should always remain there, but one day 


68 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


the Mother Superior came to my room and 
said to me, ^Zella, we are to meet with a 
great loss/ The words struck a chill in 
my blood, for young as I was, when I lost 
my mother and then my father, it had left 
terror in my child-heart, and I felt that her 
words concerned my fate. What new suf- 
fering was to come upon me now and rob 
me of present joy? was the first thought 
that presented itself to me. I nearly 
fainted in her arms. ‘Oh, Zella,’ she said, 
‘it is more of a loss to us than to you. L^t 
me tell you at once, that you have a rich 
uncle in Australia, who has written con- 
cerning you, and wishes to send for you. 
He is childless and will make you his 
heir.’ 

“‘I don’t know him; I never saw him, 
and I don’t want to go,’ I sobbed. ‘This is 
my home. I cannot leave it. No one will 
care for me there as you do here, dear 
mother. I cannot go. He can make some 
one else his heir. I don’t want his money. 
I want to stay here, where everybody is 
good to me.’ 

“ ‘Let me read this letter to you,^ said 
the Mother Superior, ‘and you will feel bet- 
ter.’ 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


69 


^ do not wish to listen to it, dear moth- 
er,’ I cried. She quieted me, and encour- 
aged me so much that I kept still while she 
read to me this letter. For some strange 
reason, I can hardly understand why, I 
have since worn it close to my heart. Will 
you let me read it to you?” 

“I will listen with exceeding interest,” 
replied Mr. Drake. Zella opened the letter 
and began reading: 

‘^Melbourne, August 4th, 1879. 
“To the Mother Superior, 

“Notre Dame, 

“Cincinnati, Ohio, 

“U. S. A.: 

“I have diligently searched for years to 
find some trace of my brother, who left 
Australia when his daughter, an only child, 
was five years old. I have made the dis- 
covery that shortly after he left Australia, 
his wife, to whom he was most tenderly 
bound, sickened and died, and that for 
some time after her death no one could 
trace his journeyings. Later, with broader 
search a record was found of his death 
and burial in Cincinnati, but no one knew 
of his child. 


70 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


^^Search was made in convents and it has 
been discovered that she was placed under 
your care in Notre Dame many years ago. 
I now seek to know from you if this be 
true. 

“You may wonder, and ask why I had 
not sooner traced my brother. For years 
I was searching for riches in Eastern fields, 
hoping to return with millions and sur- 
prise my dear brother, w^hom I now realize 
was more to me than all the wealth of the 
Indies. 

“I did return, but my brother was gone, 
his death caused, I now believe, and that of 
his wife, by the loss of property through 
signing for a friend and which I could 
have saved if only I had returned sooner. 

“If this child, who must now be grown 
to womanhood, is with you I will send a 
faithful friend to bring her to me, if my 
health does not permit me to make the 
voyage myself. She is my sole heir, and I 
desire to see her in possession of her child- 
hood home, which I have been able to re- 
deem for her. 

“In case I should not survive to see my 
plans successfully accomplished, I have 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


7 


taken every precaution needful to provide 
for my niece^s support in the style in which 
she was horn. I have insured for her my 
fortune, a fortune long sought for, and 
which, now that I have found, I have no 
health with which to enjoy it. I am a 
stranger in my native place and am a pro- 
nounced incurable. I long for the fulfill- 
ment of this my heart’s desire and then 
shall gladly go in peace. 

^^Delay not the answer, O Mother Su- 
perior, but give peace to a dying man. 

^‘Yours in the faith, 

^^Leonidas Starbright.” 

As Zella finished the letter she handed it 
to Mr. Drake saying, “Perhaps you would 
like to examine it?” 

“Indeed, I should,” he replied with an 
eagerness that betrayed more than Zella 
suspected. 

“Have you any conception,” asked Mr. 
Drake presently, as he closed the letter and 
folded it carefully, “that you are this man’s 
niece?” 

“Mr. Drake,” she replied, “I am too con- 
fused when I think of it to answer this 
question. I have never been able to decide. 


72 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Months have passed since this letter ar- 
rived, and there has been no further mes- 
sage from Australia. But there is a strange 
throbbing of my heart, and the rushing of 
thoughts through my mind, of improbable 
things, as though some great change was 
portending. I strive in vain to still them 
all. My confusion seems increased to-day. 
I will go to my room, if you will excuse me, 
until I can steady myself. Why should this 
strange story so affect me? My life work is 
planned. I am happy and contented as I 
am, and desire no change. 

‘^In quiet, I will learn if possible some- 
thing of the cause of this agitation,” said 
Miss Starbright, arising from her seat. 

^^May we not dine together, if it be your 
pleasure?” asked Mr. Drake. am stop- 
ping at the Park. Perhaps I may be able 
at our next meeting to help you. I must 
hasten myself to my apartments, for I have 
some business to attend to.” 

^Wes, I will meet you at dinner,” replied 
Zella, and they parted. 

Mr. Drake, knowing himself to be the one 
charged with this great mission, sought 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 73 

how best to explain it all to her, and felt 
that it were better at another time. 

Zella went with unusual speed to her 
apartment and threw herself into a deep 
chair, exclaiming, “What does this all 
mean? Zella Starbright, the orphan, the 
possible heir to a princely fortune! It is 
true — I know it is true. I know that every 
word of it is true. Surely the Mother Su- 
perior can vouch for my being placed under 
her care at about five years of age. But 
all the incidents of the past that I can 
recall are of little value as evidence. 

“And suppose it were all true. Would 
my life be better or happier in a strange 
land, with all the temptations of wealth, 
than it would be if I successfully carried 
out the plan, so earnestly made, and the 
accomplishment of which I feel so assured? 
My purpose is a noble one. The strength 
will surely be given me to fulfill it. But 
why reason thus? I am reasoning as if I 
were indeed the lost heir.’’ 

Was it an echo, or what? Zella was 
startled with the sound of the words, “Lost 
heir.” They were clear and distinct. 

“Yes, I know I am the lost heir,” said 


74 


thy brother LEONIDAS. 


Zella, aloud. know it, and none can rob 
me of this consciousness. But how to prove 
it, and were it wise to accept it?” 

As Zella sat thus reasoning with herself, 
fading memories seemed to revive. She 
felt herself gradually losing consciousness 
and going out from the body, as in a dream, 
yet not separated from it. She saw as in 
a vision, an immense estate, a palace home 
with its broad stone steps, ascending from 
terrace to terrace. She saw the statuary 
at each landing. She saw that the last 
one spread two ways, reaching a broad 
verandah, that as far as she could see en- 
circled the palace, and yet other flights 
leading up to a second gallery, or colon- 
nade. She saw there were many ways of 
entering the building. ' She saw many peo- 
ple round about, attendants and gardeners 
possibly, and herself as a child, playing 
with her nurse. 

She could see guests with her father 
and mother. The grounds were filled with 
tropical plants in bloom, and she could 
sniff the odor. She could hear the 
coachman crack his whip and see the 
footman leap from his box to open the car- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


75 


riage door. She felt the free and innocent 
joy of childhood. She heard her own 
shouts of laughter and the clapping of her 
tiny hands, as in childish language she 
cried “papa, mamma.” She heard the rustle 
of her mother’s dress as she passed to the 
carriage, follow^ed by her guests, and felt 
her father lift her up in her glee to catch 
his parting kiss. 

“Dream on Zella,” she said to herself, “it 
may be only a dream. Dream on to the 
end, for there is joy in dreaming sweet 
dreams.” She was silent for a moment, 
when again she spoke aloud. “How shall 
I know^, how shall I know? O father, 
mother, listen to your child, here in this 
lonely room far from Australia, far from 
my cradle-bed, and show me, if you can, 
how I may know. I was so young when I 
was left alone.” Zella paused. Presently 
she resumed speaking as one in sleep. “I 
have been so kindly cared for in the con- 
vent. It is not strange that a child can- 
not grieve long. O blessed ones, and blessed 
memory, that recalls only the beautiful, 
come now to my aid and help me to prove 


76 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


what to me seems so true.” And again all 
was silent. 

Hours had passed since Zella entered her 
room, and yet she had not moved. She 
had fallen into a still deeper sleep. Again 
she spoke. ‘^Ifs mamma speaking now, 
^This is the gift of Leonidas. Let me ex- 
amine it.’ ” 

For a little time she was silent. 

“Oh, how beautiful.” Still another 
silence. “With this chain I thee wed.” An 
hour passed, and still she slept. Suddenly 
she roused and came slowly to conscious- 
ness. “What a strange dream!” she said. 
“How far away I have been, and yet how 
vivid. It is now my present surroundings 
that seem strange to me. What does it all 
mean? What do we know of dreams? 
What are they? Who can fathom them? 
Do we not sometimes in dreams pick up the 
lost threads? Has the mirror of the past 
been shown to me, that I may know w’hence 
I came? Surely I was not at my mother’s 
wedding. Yet it was her wedding, and 
how resplendantly beautiful it was. Com- 
pared with what I saw, how homely are 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


11 


the things about me. I have never seen 
such magnificence. ’Tis true I am young 
and have not seen much of the world, but 
enough of weddings to know that this one 
was indeed magnificent. The music, the 
flowers and the expectant throng; the 
bridal procession and the lights, and 
gorgeousness of almost imperial splendor. 
And in the hush and stillness these clear 
and solemn w^ords, With this chain I thee 
wed, by its mystic meaning, thou shalt be 
led, whoever the future wearer be.’ 

“And I saw them examining the chain, 
when the dream first opened. I saw be- 
neath a clasp, ‘From thy brother Leonidas,’ 
and between the long loops an odd little 
casement that covered a sparkling gem. A 
lovely woman and a courtly man leaning 
over her, were examining this costly gift 
with great and intense curiosity. 

“The woman must have been my mother, 
and the man my father. But what signifies 
this to me? And why in a dream was I 
shown that which happened before my 
birth?” And again she repeated, “With 
this chain I thee wed. 

“Unravel for me, O spirit mighty, this 


78 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


tangled dream,” and she dropped her head 
upon her hands and kept silence as if she 
really expected an answer. She had no 
thought of her surroundings. She was liv- 
ing in her dream. 

Suddenly she recalled Jessie’s words, 
^What an odd chain,” and springing up 
under the influence of the thought, she 
took oft* the chain of which Jessie had 
spoken, and taking a magnifying glass 
from her table began with it a careful ex- 
amination of the chain. Surely there could 
be no resemblance to the one in her dream. 
But, lo! she found a spring beneath the 
clasp, a spring almost invisible through the 
glass, that yielded to her pressure, and on 
the inside she read: ^^From thy brother 
Leonidas,” and in the center she saw pic- 
tured the face of a man. Then she repeated 
aloud, “Whoe’er the future wearer be, by 
its mystic meaning shall be led.” 

“How marvelous!” she exclaimed. “Then 
it was not a dream. It was but the pre- 
sentiment of a living reality, whilst I 
slept.” 

Zella lifted the chain, and in doing so, 
her eyes caught that which in her dream 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


79 


had been shown as casements of precious 
jewels. This, too, was a reality, for in ex- 
amining them, that which had seemed but 
an ordinary bead of metal was found each 
to open with the same curious slide, invis- 
ible to the naked eye, and revealed in suc- 
cession, a diamond, a sapphire, an am- 
ethyst, a beryl, a sardonyx, an opal, an 
emerald, each of rarest value, glittering in 
succession the entire circlet of the chain. 

That w^hich Zella had considered of ordi- 
nary value, and only precious as being 
placed upon her neck on her eighteenth 
birthday by the Mother Superior (who had 
long held it in her keeping), with the words, 
^^God bless you, child,” now lay before her 
a thing of great value; in history the con- 
necting link between the present and the 
past; between the living and the dead; 
and that other living one, the bestower of 
an unknown fortune. Better yet, the 
guardianship of the uncle who had de- 
clared his only object in life was to find 
the orphan child of his deceased brother. 

Zella could bear no more. She burst into 
a flood of tears. What was opening before 
her she knew not. 


8o 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


A rap upon her door aroused her, and 
Jessie’s cheery voice called out, ^ Where 
are you, Zella? May I come in? I cannot 
eat my dinner without you. Everybody is 
inquiring after you, and Mr. Drake is posi- 
tively nervous because you do not appear.” 
Entering the room she said, “Why, Zella! 
what is the matter with you? What is the 
matter? Has any one hurt you?” 

“Jessie,” said Zella, with a forced smile, 
“I have a favor to ask of you. Do not speak 
of my tears to any one, and make my ex- 
cuses for to-night. I wish to be alone. I 
shall not go down again. I can be spared; 
and, promise me, Jessie, that you will be 
just as merry as though I were there, and 
then I shall not be missed.” 

“Do you think that I shall be happy, 
Zella, leaving you in tears? I shall be more 
likely to be in tears myself.” 

“But for once I beg of you, Jessie, to 
leave me and ask no questions.” 

“But you must have some dinner, Zella, 
and I will bring it up myself.” 

“No, Jessie, I cannot eat. I have no 
appetite. Our breakfast was late. I have 
plenty of fruit and that is all I care for.” 

“Oh, but, Zella!” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 8 1 

^^Now, Jessie, be good to me, and go and 
sometime you shall know what I cannot 
tell you to-night. Do not let any one come 
to my room.” 

“But I am wretched, Zella, to go in this 
way.” 

“Go,” said Zella imperatively, “and do 
not make me wretched with trying to find 
out what I cannot tell you to-night.” 

“IJl go,” said Jessie, “and try to be happy 
for your sake. Let me kiss the tears away.” 

“They have gone now^,” said Zella, “and 
they will not return.” 

“Good-night, again,” said Jessie, taking 
Zella’s face between her hands and kiss- 
ing her impulsively. 

“Good-night,” said Zella, closing the 
door. “Good-night, happy child. I feel like 
one grown old in a single day. I must 
know more of this strange dream,” and 
Zella threw herself again into the deep 
easy chair, while Jessie joined the com- 
pany below — that merry company, now 
more attractive than ever since the arrival 
of the Australian agent. 

The dancing had already commenced and 
each, bent on his own pleasure, sought the 


82 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


partner most congenial to his taste or ad- 
vantageous to his acquaintance, for society 
is a political chess-board. 

Jessie, really the belle of the evening, 
was soon in the whirl of the dance with her 
companion of the evening before, the fasci- 
nating Mr. Carper. Mr. Drake was stand- 
ing in a shadowy spot, with a restless, ex- 
pectant look on his face, impatiently wait- 
ing for someone. Jessie felt it must be 
Zella he waited for. She glanced in his 
direction every time she came near. His 
countenance did not change. At last he 
disappeared and then she felt sure that it 
was Zella for whom he was waiting. She 
ventured to say to Mr. Carper, “Your friend 
has retired early.” 

“Yes, Mr. Drake has serious business on 
hand, for the accomplishment of which he 
came to America.” 

“I sincerely hope that his quest will be 
rewarded. May I ask the nature of his 
business?” said Jessie. 

betray no secrets when I say he is in 
search of a young lady,” said Mr, Carper 
eagerly watching Jessie^s face to see what 
the effect of his words would be. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 83 

^Wife huntiiig?^^ said Jessie dryly, with a 
little toss of her head. ‘Well, may he not 
be disappointed,” she continued. 

“I did not say ‘wife hunting,’ though it 
might' prove so. If you are really inter- 
ested I will tell you while we rest here, 
waiting for the next dance, something 
about this young lady for whom he is 
searching.” 

“Oh! I should like to know,” said Jessie, 
eagerly, in spite of a feeling of indignation 
that Mr. Carper was presuming, in expect- 
ing her to dance with him all the evening. 

“Well,” he commenced, “my friend Mr. 
Drake is in quest of an heiress.” 

“Like all the men,” replied Jessie, curtly. 
“The most of them are fortune hunters.” 

“But in this case,” said Mr. Carper, “he 
is searching for one on whom to bestow a 
fortune.” 

“Ah!” replied Jessie, reddening because 
of her impulsive mistake, “that is more 
rare. I hope he will find her if he has so 
large a fortune to bestow, and hope, too, 
that she will be worthy of him and of it 
also.” 

“But the fortune of which I speak is not 


84 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


his own. He is searching for the only child 
of people long since dead, and the fortune is 
the rich legacy of an uncle a many times 
millionaire, wdio some years ago returned 
from India. There is but one sure proof 
by which the claim to this fortune can be 
established. It all hinges upon a curious 
chain, the gift of the father to his bride on 
their wedding day. Shall w^e dance? The 
waltz has already commenced.” 

Suddenly Jessie thought of the chain 
around Zella’s^ neck, about which she had 
questioned her that day. She wmndered 
why Zella had absented herself for the 
evening. Why had she been in tears? 
Surely here w^as a mystery! Yet each 
thought was linked to the other so natur- 
ally that Jessie felt there must be some 
connection between them and only wished 
that it might prove that her dear friend 
Zella, who had planned to support herself 
with teaching, might be the fortunate lost 
heir. 

Most young people at a certain period in 
their lives are sure that a fortune is the 
only desirable thing in life. Perhaps it is 


THY BKOTHER LEONIDAS. 85 

well that they do not see all that it usually 
costs, to sense and soul. 

“I do not feel like dancing any more, Mr. 
Carper, and mamma likes to have me come 
early to her room. I will be excused now 
and say good-night,” and Jessie bowed 
quickly and was gone before Mr. Carper 
could realize the fact. The evening had 
no more charm for him, and he sought his 
own apartments to think of Jessie and her 
bewitching beauty. 


CHAPTER VI. 


It was near midnight and Zella was 
standing at her window in the strong light 
of a full moon, dressed in her robe de nuit 
So startlingly still she stood that she might 
have been awed into silence by an invisible 
presence. Possibly the presence of one of 
the many angels whom God hath given 
charge concerning her. In her loose flow- 
ing robes one almost fancied folded wings 
and heard vibrations in the silence that 
breathed of peace. If thou be alive, Zella, 
and this be thee, why dost thou not stir? 
Why this appalling silence? 

An hour passed, and not a movement was 
made. No deep or lighter breath could 
be heard, even the stillness seemed shriek- 
ing Zella, Zella! but she stirred not. Her 
upturned face supported upon her open 
palms, was white as the light that shone 
upon it. At length there was a deep sigh, 
a long-drawn breath and then a quicken- 
ing one. Zella shivered convulsively. She 
86 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


87 


turned her white face toward the empty 
room as though she was in a strange place. 
At last she called out, ^^Zella, Zella ! Where 
art thou,” and clasping her hands, her head 
dropped upon them and she uttered these 
words: ^^0 Thou holy guardian of my life, 
thou Lord, my God, return me safely to 
my room. Thou hast led me in strange and 
devious ways out into the invisible, the 
unknown. Thou hast shown me mighty 
things and Thou hast kept me in safety 
while I have traveled far into the past. 
Steady Thou, now, my heart and mind that 
I may learn to know the great purpose of 
my life and Thy part therein.” 

She breathed a deep, quivering sigh of 
consciousness, as though she knew herself 
as the girl of yesterday, and yet as one of 
another time, and clime. 

will sleep now,” she said, ^Tor the hand 
of the angel that guided me safely in the 
long journey of the dream (that I might 
gather up the threads of memory) will 
watch over me still, will watch over me in 
sleep.” 

Zella moved noiselessly to her couch and 
laying herself down pressed her cheek to 


88 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


the pillow and folded her hands beneath it. 

Mother of the Christ/^ she said. ^^Be- 
neath thy white wings the earth sleeps in 
peace. O Father of the Christ, the world 
rests on Thy wings of wisdom and power, 
while tired nature drinks of the full foun- 
tain of sleep, and awakes with the fresh 
and sparkling dews of morning. O Mighty 
One, whose life is given to feed humanity! 
Thou pulse-beat of all living things, Thou 
very life, visible and invisible, that spares 
naught of its fullness, help us to know that 
Thou art All in All; that Thy wisdom fills 
all space and place; that Thou are Love; 
that eternal fire that consumeth all unlike 
Thee, but burneth not. Thou Eye of the 
World that seeth through all matter and 
all time. Thou Spirit, God, help me to 
know that fin me is matter’s last gradation 
lost.’ Help me to rest in Thee, willing with 
Thee, that I may float and float upon the 
bosom of Thy soundless sea.” 

It was long after midnight and as Zella’s 
last words died away the stillness within 
was made more profound by the silence 
without. The occasional faint chirp of a 
night bird was all that could be heard. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 89 

Zella herself had been lulled into a pro- 
found sleep by the influence of her prayer, 
and her heart beat in slow and silent 
rhythm with that Life of which she had 
spoken. The Life of the world. 


CHAPTER VIL 

With the first stir of the morning, Jessie 
was at Zella's door. She tapped lightly, 
but Zella was still in a deep sleep. 

“I will not waken her,’^ Jessie said to her- 
self. “But then what except the sight of 
her will stop this strange flutter at my 
heart? Dear girl! She is never ill. Those 
tears — how they haunt me. I will let her 
sleep, but I will not be far away, sweet- 
heart.^’ 

Gaiety had begun, and the hurry and 
scurry of the pleasure seekers and pleasure 
lovers made the Park merry. But all this, 
together with the steamer’s whistle, the 
ringing voices, and the boatsman’s oars, 
were unheard by Zella. Jessie kept a watch 
beside her door. 

At ten o’clock Jessie became too impa- 
tient to endure the waiting longer, and as 
she softly turned the knob and stole into 
the room, Zella opened her eyes and said 

90 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 9 1 

sweetly, am not asleep; you may come 
in now. 

“Jessie, I have been dreaming strange 
dreams. I am still the friend you knew 
yesterday, though years older in thought 
and feeling. Where is Mr. Drake? Have 
you seen him this morning?” 

“Yes,” replied Jessie. “He is sitting 
alone in the arbor, down by the water, and 
he looks awfully lonesome in this gay 
place.” 

“I want to see him. Will you go and ask 
him if he will give me an hour of his time 
in the parlor? I think he can help me un- 
ravel my dream. You may come, too; then 
you will know why I was in tears. I will 
dress immediately and meet you there.” 

“But you have not breakfasted,” said 
J essie. 

“I do not feel like eating. There is some- 
thing of so much more consequence that is 
consuming me.” 

“Well, you will have to eat something 
yourself or your thoughts will eat you up. 
I shall see to it that you go to the dining 
room for colfee first,” said Jessie. “Pll go 
now, lest that serious Mr. Drake be en- 


92 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


trapped into some of the sports of the 
girls,” and she flew away with the speed of 
a loving heart, to serve her friend. 

Mr. Drake was still sitting in the arbor 
engrossed in deep thought and unconscious 
of all around him. 

‘Tardon me,” said Jessie, “if I intrude 
upon your privacy. I come to you with a 
request from Miss Starbright.” 

At the mention of Zella’s name Mr. 
Drake hurriedly arose and advancing, said 
interrogatively : 

“Miss Starbright, — and what can I do 
for her?” 

“She desires to see you in the parlor. She 
wishes to ask you about dreams, and she 
has not yet had her breakfast.” 

“Nor have I,” replied Mr. Drake. “We 
will breakfast together. I will wait here 
until she appears on the verandah, then I 
will come quickly.” 

Jessie flew away, radiant with success, 
while his last words, “I will come quickly,” 
rang in her ears. 

“Dreams?” said Mr. Drake. “I am afraid 
I shall disappoint her, for I neither know 
what they are nor what they mean, and for 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


93 


this very reason she may be able to instruct 
me. happy dreams of childhood!’’ he 
mused, as he seated himself again. ^^How 
often in memory I live them over. So 
sweet, so sweet! Happy dreams of child- 
hood! I know not to-day what they mean, 
but thoughts of them always bring me joy, 
joy that is sometimes tinged with a shade 
of sadness, because the daily life is so 
dreamless, so hard and real. But to most 
of mankind I think the subject is unex- 
plainable. 

‘^Ah! there she comes. There is Miss 
Starbright. How fair. A vision of beauty, 
yet she is really a plain looking girl. Why 
am I so interested in her? Is it the name 
alone, or is it the girl herself? Truly I 
know not.” 

But you will soon know, Francis Drake. 

As Mr. Drake stepped upon the veran- 
dah, Miss Starbright came forward and 
frankly extending her hand gave him cor- 
dial greeting, saying, ^Tt is my pleasure 
that we breakfast together this morning.” 

^Tt is certainly mine,” responded Mr. 
Drake. ‘^1 had not known before why I 
waited.” 


94 


THT brother LEONIDAS. 


After they were seated Mr. Drake said, 
“I am afraid I shall not be able to help you 
in the solution of dreams, as Miss Dunkirk 
suggested you desired me to do. Miss Star- 
bright, for I confess my utter lack of under- 
standing of them.” 

^^But I think you can solve this one for 
me. I feel so sure of it that I boldly sent 
for you. But I am really hungry now, and 
with good reason when I remember that 
my dinner last evening was not eaten. Let 
us enjoy this delicious coffee, and after- 
ward talk of dreams in some quiet spot 
where we shall be undisturbed.” 

There were other loiterers not far from 
this little group, also breakfasting late, and 
Zella felt that what she had to say was too 
sacred for other ears than Jessie’s and Mr. 
Drake’s. 

As soon as they had satisfied their hun- 
ger they retired to one of the deserted par- 
lors, where they waited for revelations not 
expected by any one of them. Here Zella 
began to tell her dream. It glowed in her 
mind like a living fire, and sent its radia- 
tions into the minds of her listeners, who 
were so in harmony with her in thought 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


95 


that they, too, could see what she had de- 
scribed, and they listened with intensity to 
every word, the account of which has al- 
ready been given. She also related how 
the dream had occurred during the night 
for the third time, with still unfolding 
memories and broader vision. She related 
that w^hile standing looking out into the 
moonlit stillness of the night she had 
been suddenly transfixed, and as suddenly 
transported to the scenes of her babyhood. 
She had again heard her own gleesome 
shouts, and had felt the living presence of 
her father, of her mother and her nurse. 
She distinctly heard the horses^ hoofs and 
the carriage wheels as they drove up the 
avenue, then away from the stately edifice, 
and she knew that in her dream she was 
living over that eventful time of her young 
life. She saw gay companies crowding the 
rooms, some in military uniforms, and 
heard the merrymaking of the people. She 
saw people on horseback, both men and 
women, and much coming and going. 

Whenever she paused in her recital she 
observed that Jessie and Mr. Drake were 
drawing nearer, breathlessly listening to 


96 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


the story of her dream, and now she had 
come to the vision of the wedding, which 
she detailed in all the minuteness of its 
third recurrence, and as she repeated the 
clear and ringing words, “What a marvel 
of beauty,” Mr. Drake gave a start and 
asked: 

“Have you any knowledge of a chain 
that might have been this very one? Upon 
such a chain hangs the identity and for- 
tune of the daughter of Justin Starbright, 
for whom I am searching.” 

It was Zella’s time to start. “Here is the 
connecting chain, I do believe,” said Zella, 
as she drew from her pocket the chain she 
had worn every day since her eighteenth 
birthday, and with it a magnifying glass, 
by the means of which she had discovered 
its great secrets. 

Mr. Drake leaned eagerly forward. He 
had been all attention before, but now a 
tide of feeling stirred him. The problem 
was solved. 

“Mr. Drake,” said Zella, opening the slide 
in the clasp, “read for yourself and tell me 
if you know that face.” 

Mr, Drake’s hands shook visibly as he 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


97 


read, ^Trom thy Brother Leonidas.” He 
looked at the pictured face intently for a 
moment and then said: 

have the counterpart of that face here 
in my pocket and the proof of the genuine- 
ness of the whole transaction. 

^^Look, Miss Starbright,” he said, break- 
ing a seal and drawing from its encasement 
a locket. ^This is the likeness of Leonidas 
Starbright, sent from India with this chain 
to his brother Justin, to be held for this 
very service; to prove, as he said, his own 
identity. How mysterious are the ways of 
the Spirit! Only the wisdom of God could 
have foreseen this need and provided for it. 

^^Look for yourself, Miss Starbright, and 
you. Miss Dunkirk, and tell me that I am 
not mistaken. Tell me that they are both 
pictures of the same face.” 

By a close and careful examination both 
the young ladies declared they were iden- 
tical, and the more they looked at the tiny 
one in the clasp the more assured they were 
that there could be no possible mistake. 

^^So far, good,” said Mr. Drake, his mind 
filling with doubt lest the truth might not 
yet be proven, and taking from his pocket a 


98 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


letter that had been given him for this pur- 
pose, he read in the hand’writing of Leon- 
idas Starbright the following: 

‘^Friend Drake: 

^‘If you are so fortunate as to find the 
grown child of my lost brother, remember 
this: You will find in all probability in her 
possession a peculiar chain. In appearance 
it is very ordinary, even worthless, and not 
at all noticeable, except for its fine engrav- 
ing. It has peculiar long links and seem- 
ingly large beads with which they are held 
together. There is little to attract atten- 
tion to it, but it might surprise one who 
was thoughtful enough that such fine work 
should be put upon oxidized silver. There 
are two reasons for its value. One is the 
power of love with which it was charged, in 
my hours of designing it, to send as a suit- 
able gift to my beloved brothers charming 
bride upon their wedding day. 

^^Should you find this chain by any 
means, in any place or upon the neck of any 
girl, in no matter what condition of life, 
learn if the wearer is my brothers child. 

“I will now describe to you the secrets of 
that chain, which was so curiously wrought 


L. dfa 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


99 


by the most skillful artist in India. It is 
indeed a small fortune in itself. 

“There is a secret spring in every bead 
that, by a certain pressure upon it, will 
slide back and disclose a gem of the finest 
quality. The gems are set in the order in 
which I here name them: 

“A diamond, a sapphire, an amethyst, a 
beryl, a sardonyx, an opal and an emerald, 
that are repeated in this order of succession 
the entire circlet of the chain, and within 
the secret hiding place of the clasp is a 
miniature of my face, surrounded with the 
words, ^From thy brother Leonidas.^ 

“A pleasing and very gratifying fact to 
me was that my brother requested the 
Bishop, besides using the wedding ring 
w^hen he performed the service, to complete 
it with the use of this curious chain, thus 
binding, he said, the three in one, and he 
finished with these words, AVith this chain 
I thee wed, by its mystic meaning thou 
shalt be led, whoe’er the future wearer 
be.’ ” 

As Mr. Drake spoke these words Zella 
sprang to her feet. “The very words I 
heard three times in my dream and they 


100 


thy brother LEONIDAS. 


were so clear. Why did I forget to speak 
of them to you.” 

^‘The better to solve the mystery of your 
dream,” said Mr. Drake, for surely the 
mystery is solved. Let me congratulate 
you. You are the long lost child of Justin 
Starbright, I have no doubt, and as his 
child I claim you, in the name of Leonidas 
Starbright, as the heir to many millions.” 

Zella, quite overcome, said, do not 
know whether I ought to be congratulated 
or to be pitied. Many millions will be a 
care, I fear, that I am not equal to, and 
then who can think what it all involves?” 

^^That is true. Miss Starbright,” said Mr. 
Drake, with seriousness. But Jessie broke 
in, 

^^Oh, my goodness, I should not stop to 
see what it involved. I only wish I were 
you, Zella. Think of it, many millions! 
Why, I think my head would be turned 
with one.” 

Mr. Drake could hardly refrain from say- 
ing, ‘Tt seems to me that your head is al- 
ready turned, though you do not know that 
Leo Carper is the son of the richest man 
in Australia. It looks now as if you and 
Zella would not be separated long.” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


lOI 


^^What wouldn^t I buy?^^ continued Jes- 
sie, enthusiastically. ‘What wouldn’t I 
see? Where Tvould I not go? What would 
I not do to help some girls I know?” and 
she grew more thoughtful, “especially for 
teachers,” she added, looking toward Zella. 

“Miss Starbright, how soon will you be 
ready to go with me to claim your inher- 
itance?” asked Mr. Drake with much feel- 
ing. 

“Go!” exclaimed Zella, “I cannot think 
of going yet.” 

“And why not?” asked Mr. Drake. “Your 
uncle will be very impatient to see you 
when he knows you are found.” 

“Well! for so many reasons. First, I must 
have time to think,” and then she said, 
“there is one who is, or will be, as deeply in- 
terested as myself.” 

Mr. Drake gave a little start of surprise, 
and stooped to pick up his pencil. Was it 
to conceal his emotion that he turned so 
quickly? 

Jessie’s surprise was visible. 

“Is it true, Zella, what I guessed about 
Richard Dent?” 

“I do not know what you ‘guessed,’ Jes- 


102 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


sie, but I will say what neither of us has 
given to the world as yet, but what may 
now be said, as there is no longer a reason 
for silence, that Eichard Dent and I were 
only waiting to achieve any degree of for- 
tune to be married.’^ 

Mr. Drake^s surprise was now visible, for 
only this moment was he fully aware that 
he had become more deeply interested in 
Zella for herself than as simply the object 
of his search for the lost heir. Both Zella 
and Jessie were too much absorbed to no- 
tice the sudden change in his countenance 
and manner. 

“It will take days, I am afraid, Mr. 
Drake, and perhaps months, for me to think 
out all that must be done. I am as bewil- 
dered now as one in a blinding storm. I 
am dazed. My mind must be steadied. I 
must regain my poise before I can decide 
upon anything.” 

“Why, Zella,” said Jessie, “I don’t see 
that you have anything to decide. There is 
nothing to do but just go and accept your 
millions. It has all been decided for you. 
Isn’t it so, Mr. Drake?” 

Mr. Drake replied with suppressed agita- 
tion: 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. I03 

course, Miss Starbrighf s movements 
may be controlled by her own will, but the 
will of her uncle is too good for rejection.” 

“But I must have time, Jessie,” said 
Zella, “to recover from this shock, this sur- 
prise and succession of dreams. I have 
much to leave in this country, penniless 
girl that I am, to go to — what? I know 
not. Mr. Drake knows better than I. Let 
me go now to the silence of my own room,” 
and she left the parlor. 

Jessie quickly excused herself, and Mr. 
Drake was relieved to find himself alone. 


OHAPTEE VIII. 

The pavilion was really overcrowded this 
afternoon, to the great surprise of all, as 
Professor Scales was seen coming from the 
hotel with Zella leaning on his arm. Not 
only was the pavilion crowded, but groups 
of young people were sitting upon the grass 
all about; for it had been noised abroad 
that the professor would give another lec- 
ture this afternoon, and a good delegation 
from the several camps had already col- 
lected. Zella said, as she looked up and 
saw the crowd : 

^^Love is, indeed, a drawing power! I 
wonder how so many have found out the 
attraction? This proves that what pleas- 
ure seekers need most is the right kind of 
food for the mind. Many a one has died of 
ennui for the want of a sustaining thought. 

“You must feel grateful, professor,” she 
continued, turning and looking into his 
face, “that you can feed the hungry mind of 
youth upon something beside husks. This 

104 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. IO5 

must greatly increase your pleasure/^ 
^^There is nothing/’ replied the professor, 
^^that fills me with such delight as the 
sparkling eyes of an appreciative audience, 
and I never grow weary of speaking to 
such.” 

They had arrived at the pavilion, and as 
Professor Scales stepped upon the plat- 
form, a joyous clapping of hands, in 
which Zella took part, greeted him. She 
found a seat on a step beside Jessie, who 
was sitting near by. 

have been requested,” said Professor 
Scales, ^fio give a second talk upon this 
same exhaustless subject. Love. I know of 
no more lofty theme. I agree with Drum- 
mond that Love is the greatest thing in the 
world. His declaration, however, was pre- 
ceded by that of Him who knew Himself 
Master, the man of Nazareth. The Master 
made the announcement to the world that 
love was the law of life. 

will tell you a story, one that touches 
all humanity, and may possibly set some 
one thinking in the right direction. With 
Emerson, I believe that every child has a 
divine right to be well born. A Chinese 


Io6 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

proverb tells us that the education of a 
child should begin with the mother twenty 
years before it is born. I myself believe it, 
since the sins of the fathers are visited 
upon the children unto the third and 
fourth generation. 

^^The more I learn to know this power, 
and to see the manifestation of it, the more 
clearly I see our Creatures design: That 
man being made in His own image and 
likeness should express joy, since joy is the 
especial outflowing of love, of which it is 
indeed the aroma and breath. 

^^The^ birds sing, the lambs skip, and all 
dumb things manifest that which man has 
bereft himself of, joy. 

“When I look upon the darkness and de- 
spair; the poverty, distress, sickness and 
death, into which humanity is plunged, I 
feel that somehow, some way, the law the 
Master taught, The gospel’ he called it, 
must have been violated, else wherefore 
all this distress? When He was asked, 
Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that 
he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, 
‘Neither hath this man sinned, nor .his par- 
ents; but that the works of God should be 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. I07 

made manifest in him/ Did He not sug- 
gest that the law had been transgressed 
farther back than his parents? The violat- 
ing of a law proves the existence of that 
law, quite as much as does the keeping 
thereof. If suffering and blindness may be 
entailed upon offspring, so may poverty, 
imbecility and deformity. But if the law 
be understood by our youth, and fulfilled, 
the incoming race will be not only beauti- 
ful in face, splendid in form, but masters, 
and every one in the world will be success- 
ful, and poverty be known no more. The 
Spirit shall dominate through the knowl- 
edge of this occult law, at present but little 
known and understood. 

“And now the story: I was born in Barn- 
stable county, Massachusetts, and was very 
familiar with the every-day life and lan- 
guage of the hard-working people there. 
The events that I shall describe to you 
were enacted in the early days of that 
State, and not far from the time of witch- 
craft. It was a time when public sentiment 
was easily roused by any departure from 
honesty. A young man of twenty or there- 
about, had been found guilty of larceny. 


I08 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

and was condemned to fifty lashes on his 
bare back. He was to be bound to a stake 
at nightfall in the public square, and there 
to receive ten lashes from each of the five 
men who had sat in judgment upon him. 

“It would require great nerve and energy 
to carry out the judgment, but the people 
of those early days were rigidly earnest in 
what they considered honesty, and this 
grievous sin must be punished and the sin- 
ner purged. Nor must the community 
longer ^spare the rod and spoil the child.’ 

“This young man was in appearance tall, 
willowy and well proportioned, with an in- 
telligent and unusually fair face. His was 
an attractive personality, but at times he 
had a peculiar cat-like manner; and then it 
was noticed that he would not look one 
squarely in the face. He would often steal 
away from his fellows and absent himself 
for some time, and this peculiarity was 
well explained at the scene that I wfill now 
relate. He lived with his widowed mother, 
a trustworthy and most respected citizen. 

“Mrs. Green and Donald, for these were 
their names, were always good friends, and 
Donald spent most of his unoccupied hours 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. I09 

with his mother. Often it had been asked 
by the neighbors, and in the town, how 
came such a mother to have so irrespons- 
ible a son as Donald Green occasionally 
proved himself to be? 

^‘The night of the punishment had come, 
and all the villagers, far and near, had, 
from oldest to youngest, assembled to see 
Donald receive his public chastisement. 
They came much as they would go to see a 
circus or a dog fight, that is, with as much 
curiosity, but with a far different feeling. 
It was a sad sight to all, for no one bore 
Donald malice. Indeed every one felt ten- 
derly toward him, and to see him thus 
bound in the public square caused a great 
wave of sympathy that swept over the 
crowd and which touched him and melted 
him to tears. ^I could not help iV he 
sobbed, as he hung limp and despairing on 
the cord that bound him. 

^^Mothers, who had thought to make this 
public condemnation and punishment of 
Donald’s vice a great moral lesson, drew 
their boys closer to them, each one feeling, 
though sorry for Donald, a human pride 
that it was not her boy who was to receive 
the lashes. 


I lO 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


“O motherhood! How subtle is thy rea- 
soning. Thou hast yet to learn, aye, and 
fatherhood, too, that there is but one great 
family, and that which touches and soils 
one boy, or girl, touches in some degree the 
whole race of boys and girls. 

^^The awful moment of punishment had 
come, and the five men with their lashes, 
and with their hearts set upon the fulfill- 
ment of the judgment for the sin of larceny, 
were ready for their work, and the gath- 
ered multitude waited for the word. Sud- 
denly there was a stir felt in the outskirts 
of the breathless crowd, and all eyes were 
turned in that direction. Eapidly wedging 
her way in a desperate and determined 
spirit, a woman was struggling to reach 
the center of the crowd. Some tried to 
keep her back, each anxious to maintain 
his own enviable position, but a glimpse of 
her eyes revealed that which made those 
around her fall apart and let her pass. It 
was Mrs. Green, Donald’s mother. 

^^She had a large, black* shawl thrown 
loosely over her shoulders. The desperate 
look on her face thrilled the crowd. She 
reached the spot where Donald was bound. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Ill 


and, impelled by the passion of despera- 
tion and a heart on fire with love for her 
child, she sprang between him and the men 
whom she knew so well, threw off her 
shawl, and, baring her shoulders, her long 
dark hair falling in sweeping masses over 
her bosom, she shrieked, ^Not a blow must 
you strike on his back. Your blows are for 
me. He is guiltless. My heart was pure. 
Before he knew aught but its beating, be- 
neath which he grew, a sudden frenzy 
seized me. I could not tell why, nor from 
Tvhence it came, it was so strange, so terri- 
ble. It was envy that others had greater 
possessions than I. 

fought against this demon, but I 
could not master it. I feared for its infiu- 
ence upon my child. The more I feared, 
the more fierce it grew upon me. It wmuld 
not go. But oh! He alone has not been 
the sufferer. I have been in fear all the 
days since he was born, lest sometime the 
same demon should possess him 

^Lash me if you will, but him will I de- 
fend with my last breath.’ She sprang for- 
ward, and drawing a great knife from be- 
neath her belt, cut the cord which bound 


1 12 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


her son, and clasping him convulsively in 
her arms, shouted, ‘You shall not harm 
him. He is God^s child. He hath not 
sinned and the eternal God shields him 
forevermore.’ 

“It was a pathetic scene, indeed. The 
men were awed by the power that moved 
her, as the prostrated child leaned heavily 
upon her left arm, while her right hand 
was lifted in defiance. 

“The men looked at each other in silence. 

“At length the elder among them, so over- 
come with his emotions that he was scarce- 
ly able to utter a word, cried out, ‘The 
court’s adjourned, boys. We all know’d 
that’s Donald’s mother. We couldn’t ’a 
touch her.’ 

“There was a strange power in the air 
that silenced every one, and under its in- 
fluence they all moved away. 

“This story, to my mind, proves the om- 
nipotence of love and its all-governing 
power through the mother. This crisis of 
the mother’s life came after twenty years 
of suffering. 

“Shall I now tell you of its effect in just 
one home in that little town in Barnstable 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


13 


county? It had its influence in all the 
homes in the community whose inmates 
had witnessed this scene. 

^^The affair taught a lesson regarding 
pre-natal influences. It proved that the 
law of life had been transgressed, for which 
Donald had suffered, but his mother even 
more than he. 

^dn the home of Captain Bragg, the man 
Tvho had said, ^CourCs adjourned, boys,^ 
they talked much of that strange and mys- 
terious something, that great hush and 
powder that had been felt by all ; they could 
not understand it. 

“ ^Waal now, Melindy Green’s a mi’ty 
good woman, we all know’d,’ said Captain 
Bragg. ^God-fearin’ an’ alius goin’ t’ 
church, a keepin’ th’ Sab’oth an’ takin’ 0’ 
th’ Lord’s Supper, an’ I don’t b’leev sh’ ev’r 
stop a thing ’n ’er life. Howsomev’r sh’ 
hinted, mebbe sh’ did. What d’y’u think, 
Mary Ann? Y’u ’re a communicant on th’ 
Lord’s Supper. D’ y’u b’leev Melindy Green 
ev’r stoP in ’er life?’ he asked, looking 
toward a little woman who sat close by, 
meditatively knitting and rocking. 

‘^She made no reply, but kept on rocking. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


II4 

until Captain Bragg called again: What 
d’ y’u think, Mary Ann? You've hed an ed- 
dication, an’ ar’ more lam’d in som’ ways 
th’n me. I tell y’u, Mary Ann, I nev’r could 
ha’ struck a blow’n Donal’. My knees shook 
when I only tho’t on’t. I dunno’ why I 
shook. I se’m’d t’ be a tak’n a hoi’ on by a 
pow’r thet wouldn’t a let goe on me an’ jus’ 
made me (who should n’ta) say “court’s 
a’journ’d.” I was most a skeer’d aft’r say’n 
o’n’t, fur De’con Bruce was th’ he’d man 0’ 
our idees ’bout th’ punishment, an’ how’t 
should be minstrat’d. Why don’t y’u speak, 
little one?’ he said, again addressing his 
wife. ^I’m foolish som’ ways I know’d, but 
when y’u sa’ ‘that’s right,’ I’m comforted.’ 

“The little woman looked up with a satis- 
fied expression of countenance, and an- 
swered, ‘You know, David, the Lord teaches 
that ’tis the desires of the heart that must 
be ruled, and that when the desires are 
ruled, the action will be right enough, and 
I make no doubt that Melinda tried to rule 
her desires. She said she fought them, and 
perhaps it was the fighting that left its 
mark on Donald before he was born. May 
be if she had been as sure about being 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. IIj 

God’s child then as she was to-night about 
Donald’s being God’s child, the demon in 
her, about which she spoke, would have 
been put out by her good thought. 

^It seems to me that’s what the Scrip- 
tures mean by overcoming good with evil. 
I know myself that it’s mighty hard to put 
a good thought where a bad one is deter- 
mined to stay, and to keep the good one 
there when the evil one has once got in. 
I know, ’cause I’ve tried it. But I know it 
makes one feel very comfortable if one can 
stick to this overcoming.’ 

“ Waal now, mayn’t that be th’ cors’ of a 
good meny peopl’s strangenesses? Som’ 
sech ’rong thinkin’ afore th’ child’s bin 
born?’ asked Captain Bragg. 

What d’ y’u think, Mary Ann? Y’u re- 
memb’r John Lowe murd’r’d h’s father, an’ 
hed t’ hang fer ’t. ’Cordin’ t’ y’r b’leef he 
migh’ n’t a bin s’much t’ blame. Y’u kno’d 
this commun’ty wus stag’r’d ’bout him. Y’u 
kno’d his fath’r hed alius bin sort o’ 
strange. Couldn’t ’t ha’ bin som’ kind o’ 
murd’rsom’ th’t possess’n o’ him, afore th’ 
child wus born. Who knows?’ 


Il6 thy brother LEONIDAS. 

Teople have a great many hard 
thoughts, David, that they don^t mean to 
have get there, and don’t know how to 
make them any better.’ 

“David Bragg was silent a while. He 
was leaning on the deal table that was as 
white as sand could make it, on which was 
an iron candlestick with an unlighted tal- 
low dip, and beside it the silver snuffers, 
on a silver tray, almost the only heirloom 
of the family. The blaze from the great 
logs in the open fireplace before them 
flared and leaped, and threw its bright 
light on Captain Bragg’s bronzed face and 
horny hands, while within his heart flamed 
the fire of honesty and sweetness. Pres- 
ently he leaned forward across the table 
and saidt 

“ ^Y’u hav’n’t eny hard things ’n y’ur 
h’art t’ bear, hev y’u, Mary? I hev alius 
tri’d t’ do purty right by y’u, hev’n’t I, 
Mary? Leestwise y’u’ve alius seem’d satis- 
fi’d with th’ best I could du fer y’u. Y’u ’re 
th’ light o’ my h’art, Mary Ann, an’ alius ’ll 
be. I alius pray ev’ry night an’ mornin’ thet 
our childr’n ’ll grow up jes’s good’s y’u ’ar. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. Il7 

yes, jes^s good. Mary, an^ I could n’t a ask 
nuthin’ bett’r.’ 

always teach them, David, that if 
they are as good as their father they will 
never do anything that will disgrace me.’ 

‘^Captain Bragg leaned over and kissed 
the little woman, saying, ^Y’u knows party 
well what love is; I knows purty well how 
’t mils y’u, an’ y’u mil me. I feel that som’ 
how that’s th’ way God wants ’t mil th’ 
world, ’n spite o’ all th’ teachin’ I’ve hed, 
that don’t corespond.’ 

Well,’ replied the wife, hf as the Mas- 
ter said, God is love, and He’s all powerful, 
how else could the world be ruled but in 
love? There are many thoughts about this, 
David, that I don’t understand. I some- 
times see a great black gulf when I think 
on love; then there seems to be a great 
light beyond this darkness, and so I can’t 
help but believe that man, by holding on to 
evil thoughts, makes the darkness that 
hides the Lord from him. These are 
thoughts that make me keep very still; I 
don’t like the darkness, and I don’t like 
evil things to come into my life, so I try to 
put them out of my thoughts and say what 


Il8 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

the Lord said, ^^God is love,” and that’s how 
I most of the time am filled with a happi- 
ness that I can’t even tell you about, David.’ 

‘Now, Mary Ann, y’u’ve just sot me t’ 
thinkin’. Why didn’t y’u nev’r tell me this 
afore?’ 

“ ‘Why, David, I have been thinking. I 
should not have told you now if you had 
not forced me into it. I have been thinking 
to-night, more deeply than ever, what an 
awful responsibility rests upon parents, 
and how, perhaps, they may be made to see 
that wrong thinking will blot the character 
of a child before it is born. I don’t know, 
David, I don’t yet understand. But I do 
feel there is a great truth here that ought 
to be known before any one thinks of be- 
coming a parent; I feel that some way, 
though I don’t know how, God comes in 
right there.’ ” 

As the professor closed the story he 
found a deeply interested audience gath- 
ered closely about him, and in conclusion 
he said: 

“I believe there is yet to be a revelation 
of the Truth of Divine Love that shall re- 
deem and save the world, and in that good 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. II9 

time the children shall not come into the 
world ^scarce half made up,’ as so many do, 
robbed of their divine birthright to be as 
well born as was Jesus of Nazareth, be- 
cause man shall know that suffering in the 
flesh comes alone from the lack of under- 
standing that his nature is love, and that 
in love he is God-like.” 

The professor’s hearers were loud in 
their demonstrations of approval and clam- 
ored eagerly for more. So that the lecturer 
might have talked indefinitely had not a 
dozen childish voices shouted imperatively, 
“Lunch! Lunch!” And the pavilion was 
speedily emptied. 


CHAPTER IX. 


It was now four weeks since the arrival 
of the Australians at Lake Geneva. Gayety 
had intensified and all the camps, Harvard, 
Collie, Elgin and Bon Ami, had caught the 
spirit, and there was a general good fellow- 
ship existing. It was a morning of unpar- 
alleled beauty; the air was surcharged with 
gladness, and the song birds loaned their 
power of sweetest harmony. But over all 
there was a stillness like that of a Sabbath 
day. 

During the last few days Zella and Mr. 
Drake had been much of the time absent. 
This morning it was rumored that Richard 
Dent was expected. There was much clus- 
tering in groups of the curious. Every one 
waited with a sense that something un- 
usual was about to happen, and when the 
steamer whistled and stopped at the Park 
at ten o’clock the grounds and pier were 
full. Only three gentlemen stepped from 

the boat. They were met by Zella and Mr. 

120 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


21 


Drake, and all walked directly toward the 
hotel, followed by porters with the travel- 
ers^ luggage. A shout went up, ^^Richard 
Dent has come,” and as his party quickly 
disappeared into the hotel, speculation and 
gossip relative to the two strangers accom- 
panying him ran high, as is always the 
case so long as there is a mystery to be 
solved. 

All day Richard Dent and his traveling 
companions were the center of the Aus- 
tralian group, which included of ladies only 
Zella, Jessie and the “Duchess.” 

Prof. Scales had declined an invitation 
to lecture to-day. He was not in the spirit 
for it, he said, as other thoughts possessed 
him. The day passed, and at dinner he an- 
nounced that there was to be a double wed- 
ding at the pavilion that evening, to which 
all were invited. Richard Dent and Zella 
Starbright were the first of the happy 
couples. 

In explanation of the suddenness of the 
announcement the professor added: “Miss 
Starbright has been sent for to go imme- 
diately to Australia, her native place, on 
account of the illness of an uncle, her only 


122 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


living relative, and to whose vast estates 
she will be the heir. 

^‘Mr. Leo Carper wdll be united to Miss 
Jessie Dunkirk, my fair right bower,” he 
added, turning and placing his hand upon 
Jessie’s head. Here Julius Whiting almost 
sprang from his seat, while the professor 
continued: ^^Leo Carper is the son of the 
wealthiest man in all Australia, a fact 
which Mr. Drake declares was not hitherto 
known either by Mr. Carper or his fiancee. 
Thus will be consummated the latest love 
stories, a most beautiful chapter in the 
lives of these young people, and it ends 
their summer’s visit to Lake Geneva.” 

If there was ever commotion in a large 
company it was at the Park after this an- 
nouncement to the guests. They readily 
understood why Professor Scales had not 
cared to lecture that day. Of course there 
was an endless amount of gossip in the few 
hours that intervened between the an- 
nouncement and the ceremony. The bustle 
and getting ready for the wedding was like 
the commotion of a country fair. 

Gossips wondered how Jessie Dunkirk 
could marry a man whom she had known 


TIIY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


23 


only a few weeks. They wondered how her 
mother could consent, and predicted all 
sorts of disappointments. Others said, 
^^Ardent love soonest grows cold.” There 
were not many beside Professor Scales, 
Kichard and Zella who understood the oc- 
cult law that draws like natures to each 
other out of the world-wide expanse of 
souls; natures that are as well known each 
to the other as are those who have been al- 
ways together. Illuminated souls recog- 
nize only character, and understand that 
the deep principle, the underlying cause of 
union, is God. 

Professor Scales was heard to say that 
^Tf the truth of this law were understood 
there would be fewer divorces, and no sins 
of pre-natal influences, sins that mark a 
child for life. But the gay world is so wise! 
It knows that sin and crime must be pun- 
ished by man’s laws of imprisonment and 
death. The gay world is not yet fully ready 
to hear the sweet teaching of the Master.” 

There was one group of that evening that 
we especially noticed. It numbered four. 
Susie Clay, Fannie Davenport, Frank Day- 
ton and Julius Whiting. They talked in- 


124 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


cessantly; they surmised; they conjectured 
even up to the time of the ceremony. Julius 
Whiting^s prophecy was tinctured, as one 
might well guess, with bitter sarcasm, for 
his heart was full of hatred born of the con- 
tempt that Jessie had felt for him. ‘^Love 
at first sight! Indeed!” he cried. ^^Some- 
times it becomes disgust after marriage, 
and then unbearable wretchedness. It is 
to be expected that Miss Dunkirk will be 
immensely happy with Mr. Carper’s mil- 
lions. She may yet have to learn that gold 
does not purchase contentment.” 

‘‘One would think, Mr. Whiting,” replied 
Susie Clay, assuming a very vivacious, 
naive expression, “that you were not a man 
of the world, and that you scorned money. 
For my part I would not marry a poor man, 
if his character was spotless. It is money 
that moves the world, and I would like for 
once to have enough of it to move the 
world.” 

“And pray, Miss Clay,” replied Julius, 
trying to conceal his bitterness of feeling, 
“what would you do with fifty thousand a 
year? Be a fool with all the rest, and run 
after a bauble?” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


125 


“Indeed, Mr. Whiting, I think I have 
sense enough to use fifty thousand a year 
with good judgment. First of all, I would 
set half the world crazy, I would be so 
beautiful. To be beautiful, you know,” she 
said, idly pulling to pieces a lovely rose, 
“one must be surrounded with luxury. I 
would make every one admire me, and that 
would not be a very difficult thing to do. I 
should always breakfast at ten, and have 
distinguished guests. I should drive in the 
afternoon, sometimes with white horses in 
silver harness, and sometimes with coal 
black ones, with gold harness. I should 
sometimes dress in fluffy white, sometimes 
in shimmering, sheeny satins, and then 
again in brilliant, rustling silks; and in the 
evening I would hold my drawing rooms, 
and be an unrivaled queen, while all the 
world looked on and adored.” 

Julius looked at her sparkling eyes, and 
brilliant color, at her swan-like neck, and 
her head with its heavy tresses, and 
thought for the flrst time since he had met 
her that Susie Clay was really beautiful 
even without money; and then was she not 


126 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


a descendant of the distinguished Henry 
Clay? 

Ah, jilted youth, beware, beware! There 
is a point of danger, and that is when bit- 
ter resentment fills the heart at the disap- 
pointment of fancied love, for so-called love 
is ofttimes only a fancy. 

“Say on. Miss Clay. What else would 
you do with money? I am anxious to hear 
more of your ambitions,” said Julius. 

“I would give dinners and dances, such 
as a princess would give. I would have 
from the Orient, laces as fine as a spider^s 
web. I would have jewels that would out- 
rival those of an Egyptian princess. I 
would have music and everything around 
me beautiful. I would play and sing until 
people would say, ^She has carried my 
heart away.’” 

By this time Julius had allow.ed himself 
to be carried away with her imagery, and 
was therefore an easy victim to her charms. 

“Let us start on a tour of discovery. Miss 
Clay. We will leave Mr. Dayton and Miss 
Davenport to continue in their wonder- 
ment over the strange turn, of affairs until 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


127 


the wedding hour has arrived, while we 
penetrate the shadows of the woodland/^ 

“Beware! Julius Whiting T’ said Frank 
Dayton, as he looked after them. “Cupid’s 
arrows are thick in the woodland shadows. 
There is danger that you may be his next 
victim. Miss Davenport, will you take a 
row with me at this bewitching sunset 
hour?” 

Beware, we say to you, Frank Dayton. 
Cupid’s arrows are as thick on sea as on 
land. 


CHAPTEE X. 

Questions came like a shower of meteors 
and a general stir prevailed as the hour for 
the double wedding drew near. ^Who will 
perform the ceremony?^’ asked one. “It 
promises an odd affair,” said another, for 
the professor had said that it would be at 
the pavilion, where so many love stories 
had been told, though we have recorded 
but few of them. 

In a brief measure of time the neighbor- 
ing florists, busy with awnings, flowers and 
other decorations, and the plans known 
only to the participants, were transforming 
everything into a veritable fairy land. The 
full moon poured the radiance of her silver 
light upon the Park, almost obscuring the 
artiflcial lights arranged in artistic de- 
signs, making the scene altogether one of 
softened beauty. As the last preparation 
was completed, guests appeared, coming 
from every direction. They filled the 

grounds completely. The wedding party 
128 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


29 


as it left the hotel was preceded by the two 
strangers who- had accompanied Richard 
Dent. Both were robed in priestly gar- 
ments. The question of who is to marry 
them was answered. Zella came, leaning 
on the arm of Mr. Drake, and Jessie upon 
the arm of her father. They were followed 
by the ‘^Duchess” and the Mother Superior, 
who had come as a surprise to Zella. After 
these came a group of children. Never was 
a scene more perfect in all its appoint- 
ments. As the wedding party advanced to 
the pavilion, music from a band on board a 
steamer lying at the pier, waiting to bear 
the happy couples away, began playing the 
Lohengrin Wedding March. 

The marriage ceremony was peculiar and 
held in it a unique service. After the rings 
had been placed upon the fingers of the 
brides, the Bishop’s assistant handed him 
two chains, which he raised in his hand 
while he uttered a brief prayer of blessing. 
He then placed one in the hand of Richard 
Dent. It was the one by which Zella’s 
claim as her uncle’s heir had been proven, 
now so arranged as to display all the jew- 
els. The other, sparkling with gems, he 


130 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


placed in the hands of Leo Carper, and re- 
quired them each to repeat after him, while 
encircling the neck of his bride, these 
words, ‘With this chain I thee wed; by its 
mystic meaning thou shalt be led; whoe’er 
the future wearer be.” 

After this beautiful service, congratula- 
tions followed. An elaborate wedding 
supper at nine in the dining hall was an- 
other surprise which had been brought 
about as if by magic. Meantime, aboard 
the steamer a brilliant concert was given 
that lasted until eleven o’clock, at which 
hour the boat bore the happy couples 
away on their wedding trip. 

From Chicago to Washington, and then 
to New York, where the friends of Eichard 
Dent, knowing of his marriage, had ar- 
ranged to royally entertain them, was the 
route of the party. To Zella, with her con- 
vent breeding, everything was novel. There 
was something childlike in her enjoyment 
of the great city. After a week’s enjoy- 
ment they took the steamer from the last- 
named city for Australia, where Leonidas 
Starbright awaited with the most intense 
agitation the coming of his niece. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


I3I 

He had been kept closely informed by 
Mr. Drake through cablegrams of every 
movement since the first finding of Zella, 
and with every message life seemed to 
grow stronger within him, that life whose 
experience volumes could not contain, and 
of which we can only give a hint in its clos- 
ing chapters. 

During the preparations that had been 
made for the reception of his brother's 
child, Leonidas Starbright’s attendants 
had come hourly to his apartments to re- 
ceive suggestions for the complete arrange- 
ments. The whole place had been astir 
with new life in anticipation and expecta- 
tion of the coming of Leonidas Starbright’s 
heir. Being so stirred with happy, life-giv- 
ing thoughts, he had for the past few days 
spent hours lying upon a couch out on the 
verandah, that he might the better over- 
look the grounds and see that every prepa- 
ration was completed. 

Mr. Starbright had proved the renewing 
fountain of life to be happy thoughts. 
By the time the steamer arrived he was 
able to walk through all the rooms and the 
grounds and himself see if anything was 


132 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


wanting to perfect this regal reception 
which he had planned. 

The waters of the fountains flashed in 
the brilliant sunshine and sent their cool- 
ing vapors forth to welcome tne bride. The 
birds spread their wings and sought the 
topmost boughs, therefrom to pour forth 
their streams of melody, for they, too, would 
give their all to the sweet home-coming of 
the orphan child.* The niany swans that 
glided over the lakes swayed their heads 
and arched their graceful necks in rhyth- 
mic measure of love and rejoicing. The 
peacocks spread their brilliant tails and 
strutted in pride, as if to say ^^We, too, 
greet the long lost one.’’ The flowers of the 
garden swung their unseen censers, offer- 
ing a fresher incense, and the palms and 
mosses and overhanging vines were trem- 
ulous with the luxuriant life of that fav- 
ored clime. 

On the morning of their arrival Mr. Star- 
bright’s heart beat with intensity as he 
walked up and down the verandah, impa- 
tiently waiting for the sound of the wheels. 
It came at last. Even at the far end of the 
avenue that led up to the palace home he 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


133 


heard the mirth of ringing laughter that 
made his heart beat faster still. With un- 
covered head he walked down the three 
flights of stone steps, leaning upon the arm 
of his valet, and involuntarily took his 
stand near a favorite statue there to await 
the appearance of the first carriage. It 
came quickly in sight, and stopped before 
him. As the footman swung open the door, 
Mr. Drake sprang out and clasping Leon- 
idas Starbright in his arms, cried: 

^^My kind friend, my mission is ended, my 
commission fulfilled. The next carriage 
brings to you the happy bride, your broth- 
er’s long lost child, and her worthy hus- 
band, Richard Dent, as also Leo Carper and 
his bride.” 

The first to alight from the second car- 
riage was Mr. Carper, whom Mr. Starbright 
greeted with marked warmth and tender- 
ness. Mrs. Carper was next to alight and 
be presented; then Richard Dent. As Mr. 
Starbright met Richard he looked at him 
earnestly, as though measuring his height 
and breadth, and letting his eyes rest upon 
his clear countenance, he extended his 


134 thy brother leonidas. 

hand and said, welcome thee with joy, 
my son.” 

Zella came last, and as Mr. Starbright 
stepped forth to meet her he took her into 
his arms as though she had been his own 
long lost one. He embraced her, and with 
tears and smiles, lifting his face to heaven, 
said, thank Thee, O Infinite Love, that 
Thou hast crowned my life with joy,” and 
looking at Zella’s face closely he exclaimed, 
“I never expected to be so happy on this 
earth again.” Then, putting her a little 
from him, and gazing long upon her with a 
devouring look of tenderness, he ex- 
claimed, ^^How beautiful thou art, how like 
her thou art, how like thy mother, Zella,” 
and together they moved toward the pal- 
ace entrance. 

Zella stopped at the landing of the first 
terrace and gazed about her. “How real 
was my dream. This is my home, my child- 
hood's home. I am here again, and you, 
dear Uncle Leonidas, will be my father, 
like him so tender and so true, and I will 
love you even as I loved him,” and reach- 
ing out her hand to Kichard she added, 
“and, uncle, let him share thy love, even as 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 35 

he shares mine. Oh, how restful. I have 
come to dwell with thee, my own, in love 
and peace.” 

^^God bless you, my children. I have now 
something to live for. My prayers these 
long weary, lonely years have at last been 
answered.” Then turning to Mr. and Mrs. 
Carper, he added, still addressing Zella, 
‘With these two happy ones near to us, as 
they are to be, thine old yet new home will 
never be lonely.” 

“How can one help living a life of love 
and beauty here, where all is so harmo- 
nious?” asked Zella, looking up to Mr. Star- 
bright, who had entirely forgotten in this 
new thrill of joy that he had been obliged 
to lean upon the arm of his valet in de- 
scending the steps. 

“Let us enter now,” he said. “I will lead 
the way.” Zella turned for a moment to 
look at the gay equipages, as they were 
driven away, and wondered if she had been 
dreaming. Could it be possible that all she 
had known in her American life had been 
real? Would this present vision with all 
its grandeur and splendor vanish in an- 
other dissolving view? 


136 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


As the party reached the upper terrace a 
dozen assistants awaited their coining, and 
on the verandah many more. The most 
conspicuous of all, however, was the butler, 
an iifrican of portly size, and inky visage, 
who, lifting his hands, said: 

^‘Bless de Lord! She am jes’ like my ole 
missus, bless de Lord! Mine eyes hab seen 
deir salvation/’ And moving toward Zella 
he asked, “don’t you know me, little one? 
Don’t you know Victor? How I use’ to tote 
you when you only knee high to a wood- 
chuck, and how the swans use to feed out of 
your little hands? Let me kiss dem. Miss 
Zella,” and the great tears dropped from 
his eyes, as looking up he ejaculated in his 
fervor, “Bless de Lord, O my soul! dis way 
into de house.” 

Mr. Starbright led his niece up the broad 
staircase to the room, that had been fitted 
especially for her. Mr. Carper asked as 
one familiar with the premises: 

“Shall we go to the east chamber?” and 
passed to the left, Jessie following him 
dazed by all this magnificence. 

“A half hour hence meet us in the break- 
fast room, where coffee will be served,” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 37 

said Mr. Starbright, as he descended to the 
drawing room where everything pro- 
claimed a welcome befitting his heiress. 

When Kichard and Zella were left alone, 
they looked at each other in bewildering 
amazement, and Richard, taking Zella’s 
hands in his own, looked into her soulful 
face and said, ^Truth is stranger than fic- 
tion.^ I sought you for your real worth. 
We had no knowledge of this mystic chain 
upon your neck, nor of its mystic leadings. 
Zella, what an angel of goodness is the 
spirit of truth! I loved you first and I 
shall love you always, for that spirit you 
dared express in the presence of ridicule 
and frivolity. That spirit is the glittering 
jewel of a woman^s life, and if all girls 
could know how it draws good and worthy 
men, they would cultivate it more.” 

This little love episode was interrupted 
by the striking of the deep-toned clock that 
stood upon the stair. It told them the half- 
hour had expired, and they made haste to 
find Mr. Carper and his beautiful bride. 
The four entered the drawing room to- 
gether, where Mr. Starbright awaited 
them. He took Zella’s pale cheeks between 


138 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


his palms and said, ^^0 my beloved, how 
like unto her thou art;” and imprinting a 
kiss upon her brow, he drew her arm within 
his own and led the way to the breakfast 
room. Upon the threshold he halted as 
if to let them realize the beauty of the dec- 
orations, but in reality overcome with his 
own emotions. When they were seated in 
their appointed places he said: 

‘Wou must be hungry, children, after 
this long waiting, so eat and drink your fill 
of good things this day,” and lowering his 
voice added, “for none knoweth if he hath 
another.” 

J ust then music was heard from without, 
and the familiar strains of the Lohengrin 
march reminded the bridal party of the 
Pavilion and Lake Geneva. The artificial 
swan forming the beautiful centerpiece and 
so artistically arranged that it seemed a 
living thing, brought memories also of 
“Elsa,” as a happy bride. 

“I sailed away from Australia,” said Mr. 
Carper, “with no thought of such a shower 
of blessings, and so joyous a return.” 

“Our lines have fallen in pleasant 
places,” said Richard Dent. “Life has 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


139 


opened up to me in such strange fashion, 
and presents to-day such glittering reali- 
ties, as in the quiet walks of the past I had 
never dreamed of. I have kept the law of 
good, and greater than my conception has 
been the reward. It has not always been 
easy for me to keep my mind fixed on the 
good, especially when surrounded by so 
much 'that was evil in appearance. But I 
am confident if one gives the widest lati- 
tude to common sense, and allows himself 
to be ruled by love,that he will come to be 
held and governed by that supreme power. 
We know that life cannot be full of such 
heaven-like meetings as this. But will not 
a memory of this make us strong to over- 
come hardships, and to put away the shad- 
ows of unbelief, and create for us a condi- 
tion of contentment that is heaven indeed? 
I feel that this is so.” 

^^Ah! my son Kichard, were I to tell you 
the story of my life you could better under- 
stand how blest I am to-day. Perhaps 
sometime I may tell you all, but not now, 
for to-day we are only to keep a holiday.” 

While they are thus engaged and almost 


140 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


sacredly happy let us leave them and go 
back to America. 

Julius Whiting had become so infatu- 
ated with Susie Clay that an announce- 
ment of their engagement had been made, 
and their marriage fixed for early autumn. 
Some said that it was an act of pique on 
Julius’ part, but others who knew Miss 
Clay well declared that she was a better 
match for him than Miss Dunkirk, and so 
“Dame Gossip” had new subjects for enter- 
tainment, and spared neither the sarcasm 
nor censure of her lively tongue. Some 
said that marriages made upon such a 
basis were sure to end in disruption ; that 
soon enough one or the other would 
awaken to the consciousness that lack of 
principle had cost them a life of misery; 
others that Julius Whiting was such a per- 
fect specimen of selfishness that Susie Clay 
would find herself a most wretched wife. 

But what do all the say-so’s amount to? 
In the world it remains the truth that all 
disregard of principle reveals itself in time 
in its fruit, wrong action. 

Frank Dayton and Fannie Davenport 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. I4I 

were left to themselves and were seemingly 
very good friends; nothing more. But one 
may always see by the straws which way 
the wind is blowing. 

The height of the season had passed, and 
people growing dull for the want of some- 
thing new, were returning to their homes, 
perhaps never to meet again. Thus we 
drop the curtain for a time upon scenes 
that have grown familiar to the reader. 


CHAPTEK XI. 

It is ten years since the curtain fell upon 
the last chapter. Ten happy, happy years 
to Leonidas Starbright, years of love and 
blessing as in answer to his every prayer 
and effort in early life. 

His children, as he now called them, 
Eichard and Zella, had grown to be more 
and more necessary to him. 

Two beautiful young children now filled 
his home and his life with new interests. 
The eldest a boy, and Leonidas by name, 
was an active, restless spirit, in whom Mr. 
Starbright saw his own child-face and re- 
called his own child-life. He lived again 
in h'ls namesake. The child had no joy nor 
sorrow that he did not share with “Grand- 
pa.” Mr. Starbright was the child’s coun- 
selor, friend and playmate. Young Leoni- 
das would sit and reason with him as 
though grown old. They would in their 
talks voyage together into India and East- 

142 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 43 

ern ports, talks of which the child never 
tired. 

The other child was a girl of six, and to 
please Mr. Starbright, had been named 
Zella. She was her mother in miniature, 
pale, serious, gentle; and withal, a nature 
that was constantly radiating joy. 

Richard Dent had entered the profession 
of law, and during ten years of faithful 
service had become so influential in Mel- 
bourne that he was elected to the supreme 
bench, which was a source of no small 
amount of pride to Mr. Starbright. 

Straightforwardness and square dealing 
always develop a character worthy of ad- 
miration. 

The lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carper, who 
were near neighbors to the Starbrights, 
had run as smoothly as Zella’s own. It is 
rare indeed that four lives ever move as 
evenly in this world of care for ten consecu- 
tive years as had these four. Money was 
not lacking, health had not failed them. 
Richard Dent and Leo Carper had labored 
with an earnest purpose and had become 
leading citizens. They had proved to the 
world that life is indeed a precious thing 
and well worth living to the fullest. 


144 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


For it proved the principle that the reap- 
ing is as the sowing. 

Mr. and Mrs. Carper had spent much of 
the last ten years in travel, for Leo Carper’s 
business was with mercantile houses in 
other countries. They had returned many 
times to Lake Geneva, where Jessie’s par- 
ents still summered, each time returning to 
Australia happy and content, realizing 
more and more the blessings that were 
theirs. They had frequently heard of Jul- 
ius Whiting’s devotion to his wife; that his 
worldly goods had increased; and that she 
had fifty thousand dollars a year at her 
disposal; that her life was one of great 
worldly influence and gaiety. They had 
also heard other rumors. They had heard 
that Julius had paid marked attentions to 
Mrs. Dayton, formerly Fannie Davenport. 
Such rumors as, if found true, would drive 
his wife to desperation, and these latter re- 
ports were far more widely circulated than 
the former. It was also said that Mrs. 
Whiting was not as joyous and happy as 
she at first had been. But that could be 
easily accounted for. The care of her four 
children, her great number of servants, to- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 45 

gether with the demands and anxieties of 
a fashionable life, were surely enough to 
drive all contentment and peace out of her 
heart. 

It was not many months after Mr. and 
Mrs. Carper’s last visit to Geneva that they 
received a letter from Julius Whiting’s 
father saying that he was soon to visit Mel- 
bourne, bringing with him his daughter- 
in-law and her beautiful children. 

A feeling of concern which she could not 
explain came upon Zella, and with all the 
largeness of her heart she determined to 
make them guests in her home, for some- 
how she felt that her early friend, Mrs. 
Whiting, needed a comforter. 

Jessie and Zella had often talked of 
Julius Whiting’s sudden change and of 
his desperate flirtations with Fanny Dav- 
enport after Jessie’s marriage. The latter 
was devoutly thankful for the turn his 
affections had taken, for she had never 
cared for him. She had hoped that her 
rejection of him would cause no pain, and 
if gossip was true, she was thankful that 
she had never loved him and that Leo Car- 
per had found her as he did. 


146 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


No children had come to bless the Car- 
pers’ home. Therefore they had adopted 
two. have learned to be a good mother 
by your example, Zella, and as we are good 
friends so may our children be,” J essie had 
said. 

Mrs. Carper would have gladly taken the 
expected guests into her own home, but 
Zella would not permit it. 

Susie Whiting’s condition was a great 
surprise to all her early friends. She was 
a perfect wreck as compared with her for- 
mer self. Society and her fifty thousand a 
year, or something more disastrous yet, 
had changed her. She would have been a 
nervous, irritable and unbearable compan- 
ion to one less poised than Zella Dent. 
This condition reflected itself daily in her 
children, whose care she gladly thrust upon 
their nurses. She had not been long at 
Melbourne before the cause, and her un- 
happy secret became known. Her hus- 
band, so long apparently happy and satis- 
fied in his wife’s companionship, had sud- 
denly become attracted by another face, 
that of Susie’s old-time friend, Fanny Day- 
ton, and being led by the uncontrolled 
spirit of selfishness, he forgot all obligation 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


147 


to the one of whom he had been very proud, 
and madly followed, to his own destruction, 
this new-found fancy; 

Susie Whiting had been very fond of her 
husband, and also somewhat proud of him. 
She shrank from what she saw to be in- 
evitable, a legal separation. She had had 
absolute faith in his integrity, and when 
the crushing blow came, her trusting wo- 
man’s heart bled in anguish. She was glad 
to take this offered Australian journey un- 
der the protection of her husband’s father, 
who was devoted to her and her children. 

Perhaps in all the world she could not 
have found another person who could have 
understood her condition and at the same 
time have acted as wisely as did Zella Dent. 
She entered into the sufferer’s feeling so 
tenderly that she was able to draw from 
her all distress and bitterness, and to pour 
healing balm into the wounds. They 
talked freely of the evil power that had 
drawn Julius Whiting from his happy 
home. Zella encouraged Susie to drop him 
from her thoughts as much as possible. 
“Surely,” she would say, “he cannot be 
happy now. If in truth he once gave his 
love to you it still remains a truth and can- 


148 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


not be erased or effaced. However deeply 
it may be covered up, it will burn and burn 
forevermore.” 

Susie’s children soon ceased to be a care 
to her. Under Zella’s management they 
were mingling in freedom with her own 
children, enjoying their studies and their 
sports, and their mother saw little of them, 
save from the window of her spacious room 
that overlooked the play-ground. 

^^You must forget while here with us, all 
the sorrows of the past, and lose yourself 
in the joy of everything that surrounds 
you. Begin to live a new life that shall be 
profitable to both soul and body. Here 
you shall learn that the poison of grief, 
more poisonous than that of the upas tree, 
may find an antidote in that love which 
forgiveth much because it loved much. 

“There are other woes greater than this, 
Susie,” continued Zella one morning, 
“though this be a living torment. It will 
be such until the altar be builded anew to 
the Divine rather than the human, for only 
thus can we find that God-implanted na- 
ture through which we may rule with Him 
and share His glory.” 

“But, ah, Zella,” replied Susie in her con- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


149 


vulsion of grief, ^^how can I still this aching 
heart? I gave him mj love, and for ten 
years he prized the gift, and these children, 
our children, are the fruit of our love.’^ 

To-day Susie could not be comforted, and 
so Zella left her that the passion might die 
away of itself, for she knew it would be 
spent. 

The visit of the Whitings from Ameri- 
ca was a great event in the Starbright man- 
sion. Though Susie had come veiled and 
shrouded in the darkness of sorrow, yet 
they were rejoiced at her coming, and they 
made her their first consideration. She 
could not respond to their joyous greetings 
at first, but was surrounded by their love 
and in time they knew the washing of its 
waves would set her free. 

Fanny Davenport, afterwards Fanny 
Dayton, had for ten years been a welcome 
and much loved visitor in the home of the 
Whitings, until this blow came, though she 
had not changed from the unprincipled co- 
quette of Geneva days. 

Mr. Francis Drake, of whom we have 
knowm so much, was Mr. StarbrighFs agent 
both in Australia and abroad, and indeed 
had sole charge of all his business. 


150 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

He had always been a member of the 
family, and it was not a year after Mrs. 
Whiting’s freedom from her husband, be- 
fore it was observed that Mr. Drake grew 
daily more needful to her comfort and hap- 
piness, and that she was more enspirited 
when he was present. 

So long had she been in Australia, and so 
dark had been the clouds that fell upon her 
life in America, that she had grown into a 
seeming content, that perhaps was only a 
state of apathy. The great desire of her 
friends was to see her alive again to the 
interests of her children and surroundings. 

She had no need of anxiety regarding 
finances, for Julius’ father, who grieved so 
deeply over his son’s errors, had provided 
abundantly for her and her children. Even 
had it been otherwise Zella, in her munifi- 
cence would never have let her friend feel 
that she was anything but a blessing to her 
and her household. Zella could not help 
feeling infinite satisfaction in Mr. Drake’s 
devoted care of, and attention to, her 
friend, remembering so well what he had 
been to her in the weeks of their first meet- 
ing. 


CHAPTER XII. 


Leonidas Starbright had seen twelve 
happy summers come and go since he had 
found Zella. Joy had so filled his heart all 
the while that it brought new strength to 
his limbs and peace into his daily life. He 
had for some time been possessed by the 
desire to revisit India, the scene of his great 
success. It was there he had accumulated 
the princely fortune that had enabled him 
to buy back his brother’s estate, and to 
provide so bountifully for that same broth- 
er’s child. 

One morning at breakfast he asked, 
^^How many of you would be willing to ac- 
company me on a voyage to India and per- 
haps around the world?” 

^^Let’s toss up pennies. Grandpa,” said 
the spirited young Leonidas, ^^and see who 
goes. Heads win.” 

^^The one remaining wish of my heart is 
to visit India; and I hope you will not find 
it difficult to arrange to go with us, Mr. 

151 


152 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Drake/’ said Mr. Starbright, when the ex- 
citement of the surprise was somewhat sub- 
sided. would not like to be far from 
home without you.” 

“I think I could so arrange as to accom- 
pany you, Mr. Starbright, and indeed noth- 
ing would delight me more than to visit 
scenes you have so often described to me, 
yet much as I desire I could not go unless 
Mrs. Whiting consent to my proposal.” 
All eyes were fixed upon Mrs. Whiting. 

Mr. Starbright, well assured that it wms 
a concern of the heart to which Mr. Drake 
referred, enquired: 

^W^hat is your proposal, Mr. Drake?” 

Mr. Drake looked toward Mrs. Whiting, 
who gave him an assuring smile, and said: 

have asked her to take me for better or 
for worse. ^The better’ is my fortune, and 
^the worse’ is myself.” 

A general shouting and rejoicing went 
up. 

^^Ah,” said Mr. Starbright, “df that is all 
my hopes hang upon I will say that we go, 
and start within a month, too. We will 
help you fix up that matter, Mr. Drake, that 
is, if any help is needed,” he laughingly 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 53 

continued, ^^and you may secure our pass- 
age at once.’^ 

desire to follow a route familiar to 
me. I would like to stop for a month at 
Ceylon, from thence go to Calcutta, after- 
ward to Hong Kong, and from there to 
California. 

‘^It is not best that you purchase return 
tickets, as I have had a half suppressed de- 
sire to visit Cincinnati, the last resting 
place of my brother, and also Notre Dame.’^ 

^^And Lake Geneva!^’ chimed in Jessie. 

“And meet Professor Scales,” added 
Zella. 

“How I wish we might listen once again 
to one of his charming lectures in the Pa- 
vilion. He must have grown in wisdom 
greatly in these past twelve years. I know 
he has by his letters,” she added. 

“Perhaps we might prevail upon him to 
make us a visit here,” said Mr. Starbright, 
“would not that be nice?” 

^Well, now Jessie, you and Zella talk a 
great deal about thought transference. Is 
it possible that I caught your thought be- 
fore it was spoken?” asked Mr. Carper. 
“Before the Pavilion was mentioned I 


154 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


thought if we were fortunate enough to 
meet Professor Scales we might be able to 
persuade him and his wife to visit us here, 
and give us the benefit of his greater wis- 
dom, as well as the pleasure of their com- 
pany.” 

“Oh, wouldn^t that be nice. Mamma?” 
shouted Leonidas, Junior, seizing his moth- 
er around the neck and smothering her 
with kisses. I know I should love Profes- 
sor Scales. He is so wise and good, and 
because you love him, Mamma. What fun 
we would have, and I’ll ask him to tell me 
about the black squirrel and teach me 
how to make the birds come and light on 
my hand.” 

“That would not be a very hard thing to 
do,” said Grandpa, “for you are a child of 
love.” 

“And that is because I have a grandpa 
of love, and a mamma of love,” and look- 
ing up and seeing the other friends, he 
added, “and everybody I know are just 
lovely,” and Leonidas, going over to Mr. 
Starbright, put his arm around his grand- 
pa’s neck. 

“Yes,” said Mr. Starbright, kissing Mm, 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 155 

“I know what a power love is and you’re 
the rogue that understands it, too;” then 
turning abruptly to the others he said, 
“there will be Mr. and Mrs. Drake and four 
children.” 

“Not quite so fast, Mr. Starbright. I 
wish it might be, and believe it may,” re- 
plied Mr. Drake, as he leaned his arm 
across the back of Mrs. Whiting’s chair. 

Surely tenderness could not have been 
more clearly expressed than in the face of 
Francis Drake as he looked upon the one 
woman whom he now felt sure was the only 
one he had ever loved, though the begin- 
ning had been pity. 

“Mr. and Mrs. Drake, and four children,” 
again repeated Mr. Starbright, “and two 
nurses, that makes eight. Mr. and Mrs. 
Carper and two children and one nurse 
must go with us. Mr. and Mrs. Dent and 
their two children. Victor, of course I 
cannot go without him, as he is extremely 
useful to me, and we would better take 
along three other attendants. Counting 
myself, making in all the goodly number 
of — how many, Leonidas, Junior?” 

“I have counted twenty-two, Grandpa, 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


156 

and I don’t see how Mr. Drake can look 
after so many people.” 

“Mrs. Drake,” replied Mr. Starbright, 
“will have to prove herself a very unselfish 
woman.” 

“Grandpa,” said little Zella, springing up 
from her resting place on her grandpa’s 
shoulder, where she was always seen after 
mealtime, and clasping his face in her tiny 
hands, “Grandpa, aren’t you a patron 
saint?” 

“Why do you ask that, my sweet child, 
what do you know of patron saints?” 

“Oh, Mamma has told me all about them, 
and how good they are, and you’re so good. 
Grandpa, I know you must be one of them, 
and I want to be one of them, too, because 
I want to be good.” 

Little Zella’s last words were almost lost 
in the confusion of tongues and excitement 
that followed at the prospect of such a 
journey 

Any one who has planned a journey for 
an indefinite time, knows that there are 
endless preparations to be made. 

The month following the suggestion of 
Mr. Starbright on that memorable morn- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 57 

ing, was spent in high hope and anticipa- 
tion of unknown pleasures. 

Mr. Starbright insisted that there is no 
education for children equal to that of 
coming face to face with sights and people, 
and he believed that they would learn more 
of that which is worth remembering in one 
year’s travel, than in three years of school 
life. He also reasoned that the satisfac- 
tion one finds in his home after such a trip 
is compensation sufficient for all the ex- 
pense and trouble. And by a visit to the 
scenes of the joys and sorrows of his earlier 
life his home circle would better appreciate 
the recitals he had given of it. 

The day was fast approaching when the 
twenty-two travelers were to start together 
to see and hear and study, and enter into 
pleasures yet untasted. 

It is quite time here to say that the mat- 
ter of so much importance to Mr. Drake and 
Mrs. Whiting was easil}^ agreed upon, and 
had been consummated by one of the quiet- 
est and prettiest of home weddings. The 
children and all the assistants on the es- 
tate partook of this beautiful celebration, 
and there was not a heart present that did 


158 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

not throb with joy. Envy with her green 
eyes did not sit in gaudy attire, sending 
forth her poisoned arrows of thought to the 
happy couple, as at some showy affairs, 
neither did selfishness look from her high 
seat at the banquet. But the full tide of 
love and affection that surrounded these 
good people, was like the smiles of heaven 
dropping down into their hearts, and peace 
like a river zoned them round about. 

The children of the three families had 
been growing up together in the unselfish, 
joy -laden atmosphere, and under all the 
refining infiuences of a cultured and well 
governed home. Mrs. Starbright’s palatial 
residence was situated on the north side of 
the river Yarra-Yarra, and from its high 
location so far overlooked the city that the 
bustle and stir was all below them. In- 
deed there is little of the mad rush for ma- 
terial wealth and power, as has been 
known in Chicago, the home of the writer, 
since Chicago became through destruction 
by fire the great magnet and centre of our 
ever changing civilization. All the world 
helped to rebuild Chicago, and thus to direct 
thought to the place where they have since 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 59 

planted gold upon mud and quicksand, un- 
til the forceful vibrations of business life 
are destroying its brain life. Yet there are 
counter vibrations of spiritual thought, 
that are rapidly changing the life and con- 
ditions of her people. But in this far away 
home of Leonidas Starbright in Australia, 
there was a peace within and without that 
would heal the most distracted mind. Was 
it because of this peace that sickness was 
wholly unknown to them; living, as Zella 
said herself, close to the heart of mother 
nature and according to the law of love. 
They lived a truly natural and happy life, 
and considering their wealth, a very simple 
one, where discordant vibrations^ born of 
selfishness that are the breeders of disease 
in the fiesh, were unknown. 

True, the reader of these pages may ar- 
gue, that with sufficient of this world’s 
wealth, there certainly should be nothing 
but content and happiness. But I would 
make answer, truly it seems as though it 
should be only thus, but of all my many 
friends who are blest with great abund- 
ance, I see not one whose burdens I would 
be willing to carrjL 


6o 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Zella could not refrain that day from 
pouring out upon paper to her instructor 
her hopes and joy, and begging him that he 
would not refuse her request to return 
home with them, and bring his wife, and be 
to her uncle a companion and friend 
for a season. It was the one ungratified 
wish of her heart that her uncle should 
know Professor Scales, and judge for him- 
self w^hy she so prized his correspondence 
and friendship. She closed with advice 
that letters would reach them at Ceylon, 
where they might remain for a couple of 
months. 

Trunks for twenty-two, maids to pack 
them, and eight children excited with the 
thought of a year’s travel, will give some 
hint of the bustle and excitement in Zella’s 
home for the next month. The house was 
to be only partially closed. The well- 
trained retinue of assistants were fully 
worthy of the responsibility of the trust 
reposed in them. 

It was interesting and amusing to follow 
the children in their arrangements with 
the men and maids at parting, and hear 
some of the pledges given by the child- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


ren. Leonidas had his notebook and had 
systematically made out a list of all their 
names, marking down what he proposed to 
bring them. 

These children lived in a world of their 
own, to them as perfect and complete as the 
world of those of older growth. They con- 
fidently expected that they would buy 
everything they saw, to bring home to 
these people whom they left behind them, 
for they had grown up with them, and had 
never been separated from them. 

“How happy we shall make everybody,” 
said little Zella, “sha^nT we, brother? You 
know mama sa3's we can make people 
happy when we just think good things 
about them, and we can’t think anything 
else all the while we’re gone.” 

At last the day came for starting. Five 
carriage loads of living souls, each having 
a world of his own, new with experience, 
and filled with wonderful imagery of hope 
and anticipation; with endless adieus, 
they took up their line of travel to the 
steamer, and when the Yarra-Yarra was 
crossed the voices were lost in Melbourne’s 
din. 


i 62 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


The shadows began to settle over the 
city as the steamer plowed through the 
waters on her way to Colombo. The last 
rays of that day’s sun illumined the city 
with beauty and tipped the steamer’s flag 
with golden light as she sped on into the 
dark, on this first night of this voyage; and 
Mr. Starbright’s heart beat with a deep and 
abiding joy, the reward of love-serving and 
love-giving, the eternal reward of pure 
love. 


CHAPTER XIII. 

Our party were full of interest on the 
following day to learn something of the 
motley gathering of passengers from many 
nations. The turbaned Turk, the swarthy 
Assyrian, the Cinghalise, the Egyptian, 
and the Chinese, each in his peculiar garb 
appeared like the brilliant fringe of an 
India shawl, as in contrast with the somber 
vestments of the English-speaking pas- 
sengers, a few of whom play an interesting 
part in this joyous trip. Many times dur- 
ing this voyage, which was somewhat 
eventful because of storms, Zella lived 
over again, through her own little girl, 
her voyage with her father and mother 
in her first trip across the Atlantic. 
She had not changed perceptibly since we 
first saw her leaning against the knees of 
the ^^Duchess,’^ and in spite of her quiet de- 
meanor she was full of spirit and buoyancy. 
As she saw her little daughter enter into 
all the wild sports and frolics of a marine 

163 


164 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


life, she remembered well how she had 
fearlessly mounted on the rope ladder of 
the ship, full of glee and laughter, as high 
as she dared go, and then was caught in 
the strong arms of the sailors. 

The voyage recalled more fully than she 
had any conception of the many half-for- 
gotten incidents of that long ocean journey. 
One day her little daughter asked, “Is the 
whale that swallowed Jonah still alive? T 
wish I could see him if he wouldnT swal- 
low us all up as he did Jonah,” she added. 

Her mother had noticed the child was 
timid about looking into the water, and 
that she always clung to someone^s hand 
when near the railing. She felt that the 
secret cause of the child’s fear was that 
they might all be disposed of after the 
fashion of Jonah; and she felt, too, that 
she might lift this fear from her child by 
giving her own interpretation and under- 
standing of the story. So she said: 

“I will give you a talk on the steamer’s 
deck to-morrow morning about The 
Whale.” 

This was about the fifth day out. 
The next day at the appointed hour, Mrs. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 65 

Dent was greatly surprised to find that all 
the passengers on board had been invited 
by the children to listen to the whale story. 

Music was not wanting, nor many of the 
other luxuries of a steamer voyage. Zella 
found herself not only the center of the 
children but of a number of turbaned 
Orientals, who had been invited by the 
little people and whose appearance added 
picturesqueness to the grou 

When Zella was seated beneath an elab- 
orately decorated canopy, the work of the 
children, with a cushion at her feet, she 
began by reading to them the Bible story 
of Jonah and the whale. 

Zella had a very beautiful voice, and by 
the time she had ceased reading she saw 
that she had the closest attention of all her 
mixed audience, and felt an impulse to do 
her best, that none should go away disap- 
pointed. 

^ J hope you may understand my own in- 
terpretation of the whale,^’ she began; ^^for 
it gives me pleasure to feel your sympathy 
in my attempt to interest and instruct the 
children. 

“We each have our own conception and 


1 66 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

understanding of Bible' stories. They, to 
me, have great significance as allegories, 
and I, in my turn, should be very glad to 
listen to what this story signifies to any 
one else. 

‘^Now children, you have heard this won- 
derful story of Jonah^s experience. 

“Whether Jonah was a real man and 
ever lived or not, I do not know, but I do 
know that the world is full of Jonahs, or 
people who are governed and controlled 
some time or other in their lives by just 
such thoughts as we read that Jonah was 
filled with and was infiuenced by. 

“God told Jonah to go and do something. 
Jonah heard the voice and knew that he 
ought to obey; but this voice had told him 
to do something that was not pleasant for 
him to do. 

“He was told to go and tell the people of 
Nineveh that they were not living right, 
and he did not like to do that, so he arose 
up and went in an opposite direction, to flee 
from that Presence that only wanted to 
bless him. 

“Jonah did not see or understand at that 
time that the message he was told to carry 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 67 

meant a blessing to him, as well as to the 
Ninevites, so through disobedience he 
turned away from God. 

Jonah w^as so blinded by selfishness, so 
near-sighted, w'e will say, that he did not 
see that to turn away from God was to turn 
away from every lasting blessing, and to 
turn to sorrow and suffering. He deter- 
mined to please himself, not knowing what 
his disobedience would lead to, nor what 
distress it would cost him. 

“Now when we try to please ourselves, 
it is because we love ourselves best, and to 
love ourselves first is to become selfish, and 
selfishness covers every known sin of the 
world. 

“We are commanded to love good at all 
times, and that does not always mean 
pleasure; the reward of loving good for 
good’s sake, is greater than pleasure. It is 

joy* 

“Now Jonah knew he was disobeying 
God, for he had heard his command, and 
his disobedience troubled him so much that 
he was full of fear, and his own condition 
of mind infiuenced the minds of all about 
him. 


1 68 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

^^They did not know the cause of their 
nervous anxiety, but they, too, began to feel 
afraid of something, they did not know 
what. Their peace and happiness was dis- 
turbed, and this disturbance in their mind 
increased until they were so overpowered 
by fear that they thought they were to be 
destroyed. 

“Fear always destroys people. It has no 
saving power in it, but it may be changed 
to love, and when it is changed to love it 
will save. 

“The thought of all on board the ship 
turned to Jonah without their knowing 
why. They turned to him because he was 
the real cause of their trouble. 

“We always know who are good and hon- 
est people, and Jonah was not honest with 
himself. Everyone feels a something he 
may not be able to explain, when in the 
presence of a dishonest person. 

“The wise tell us that thoughts cannot be 
imprisoned in our own minds; that if we 
think earnestly our thoughts go forth to 
bless or to distress others. They tell us 
that thoughts are like waves of the sea and 
that their powerful beating against the 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


169 


mind of another has as great and lasting an 
influence as the waves of the sea upon its 
shores, and that thoughts by their own 
quality bring a corresponding change in 
the mind of others.” 

“I believe that,” said little Zella, who 
was playing with her doll. 

A smile of surprise was upon the faces of 
most of the audience, at these words from 
so small a child. 

^^Why?” asked Leonidas, looking at his 
sister in wonderment. 

^^Because mamma says so,” replied the 
child with great earnestness, still absorbed 
in her care of dollie. 

At this point all eyes were upon little 
Zella, when one of the Orientals said: 

^^Truth is a chord of such perfect vibra- 
tion that it flnds response in every human 
•being, and quickest of all in the innocent 
heart of a child.” 

There was a thoughtful pause before 
Mrs. Dent resumed her interpretation. 

^The wise,” she said, ^^call these thought 
waves vibrations.” A smile was still play- 
ing upon her face at the thought of all that 
her little daughter’s words meant of re- 
sponsibility to her. 


170 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


^^You know, children, how we have lis- 
tened many times to learn what the wash- 
ing waves were saying ” 

^^They never said the same thing to all 
of us,’’ said Leonidas. 

“That is true,” replied the mother, “but 
that is because we have not all learned to 
listen alike. We have not all learned to be 
good listeners. Some one has told us that 
it is a great thing to be a good listener.” 

“I belieye that,” said Leonidas. 

It was certainly very interesting to 
watch the effect of Mrs. Dent’s words upon 
her audience. 

“They tell us, these wise ones,” she con- 
tinued, “that our thoughts go forth from us, 
and though we cannot see them, they do go 
and do their work in the silence, and that 
their work sometimes does us great harm, 
and sometimes great good. They tell us 
that the kind of work they do depends upon 
the quality of thought sent out. 

“They tell us, too, that we may direct our 
thoughts and send them where we like, 
even as we would direct any messenger.” 

“Then I shall send all my thoughts to 
you. Mamma,” said little Zella. A ripple 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. I /I 

of amusement followed little Zella^s re- 
mark, for it showed how closely the child 
was following the mother’s teaching. Mrs. 
Dent continued: 

^^There is the beautiful white dove, you 
know, and there is the black crow. The 
white dove may represent to us the pure 
thoughts, the black crow harmful ones, just 
as is the nature of the two birds.” 

“I love the white dove,” said Frank. 

“So do I,” shouted many voices. 

“But what did they throw Jonah into the 
water for?” asked little Zella. 

Leonidas looked down upon his sister 
wdth an expression that told that he al- 
ready perceived the answer. 

“I shall explain to you soon,” replied the 
mother. 

“But I want to know right off, quick,” 
replied Zella, throwing up her arms with a 
gesture of impatience and looking eagerly 
into the face of her mother, 

Leonidas put his arm caressingly around 
his sister to quiet her, for he was anxious 
to hear the rest of his mother’s explanation 
of the story. 

“Jonah,” said Mrs. Dent, “stands to my 


172 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


mind as a weak character. Ignorance al- 
ways produces such characters* 

“It is only through knowledge proven 
that a character becomes strong. To learn 
to listen to the voice within and know that 
when we follow it we are led aright, is to be 
wise and strong. 

“You remember, children, the story of 
Joan d’Arc, and what great things she 
did because she listened to the voices that 
she heard in the silence. We can all do 
the same. 

“J onah did not follow what he knew was 
the voice of God in him, the following of 
which might have caused him to be mighty 
in the midst of the people of Nineveh, 
the people whom God told him to go to, 
with his message, but he turned and fol- 
lowed a selfish thought of pleasure that 
proved very disastrous to him in its out- 
come.” 

The children were at this point deeply 
interested and kept perfectly still. Little 
Zella was holding her doll as though it 
were asleep, and looking intently at her 
mother. Mrs. Dent noticed that she had 
the earnest attention of the elders of the 
group also. She continued: 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


173 


‘‘God has given us all, even the smallest 
child, a wonderful gift. It is the faculty 
of reason. We cannot use this gift in the 
wrong way without knowing it, and to use 
it correctly will give us great joy. To use 
it wrongly will draw fear and darkness 
into the mind. 

“Jonah did not reason at all; if he had he 
would not have gone in the wrong way as 
he did. 

“Eeason is the voice of God in us. We 
are God^s perfect idea, and must express 
that idea somewhere sometime. We wrap 
ourselves up in the delusion of a false be- 
lief, when w^e hope to find pleasure in dis- 
obedience to this voice within. We draw 
about us the darkness of ignorance. We 
become as did Jonah, wrapped in the dark- 
ness of delusion. 

“Jonah recognized that all the people 
about him had been disturbed, and made 
afraid by his own fear, and this thought 
made him more and more afraid until he 
was swallowed up in his own delusion, the 
great whale of the sea. 

“But within man is the spirit of God, and 
in time man’s delusions will have to be 


1 74 thy brother leonidas. 

given up, for the Christ child within reveals 
the solid ground of ^understanding, and 
through the power of the spirit of the 
Christ within we learn the law and purpose 
of our lives. 

^^Now, children, shall I tell you what this 
delusion is, that Jonah first swallowed, and 
then the delusion swallowed him for three 
days? 

“That means three degrees of unfold- 
ment into the understanding of who and 
w^hat he was, and what he was sent into 
the world for. We are all sent of God, 
children, for a purpose, and we have sooner 
or later to find out what that purpose is, 
and to fulfil it. 

“When anyone believes that he is flesh 
and bones, and does not see that his flesh 
and bones, his body, is an instrument, and 
a marvelously beautiful one, the harp of a 
thousand strings, that vibrates to every 
tone around him, until he learns how to use 
it aright by the God-power within him, and 
does not understand that the real I is the 
God in him, he is deluded. He swallows a 
lie, and that lie or false belief, in him, gives 
unrest, for only the Truth, God in him, can 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 75 

give peace, and so he becomes afraid, and 
that makes the false in him grow larger, 
and larger, a monstrous thing, of false im- 
aginings, that at last swallows him like a 
whale. 

^The spirit of God in you, children, will 
not let you believe in falsities, after you 
have knowm about what part of you is 
God’s child, and this you learn on the third 
day. The first day to me means all the 
years in which I thought this body was I. 
The second day, is that time when my soul 
began to ask, who am I, what am I, and 
where am I going? And the third day is 
the time w^hen I see that all that I really 
am is spirit, and then you see, the delusion, 
the whale, has to give me up to the Truth, 
and I am on solid ground, through the use 
of my reason, that reason in me, w^hich em- 
braces the use of all my faculties. Now, 
children, what is it that moves your hands 
and your feet?” 

‘Tt is God,” said little Zella, ^^but you 
can’t see him.” 

^Trom this point,” said Mrs. Dent, ^^we 
can not see the engine nor the steam that 
runs this boat, but we know that it would 


176 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


not go if there was no power to move it. 
And it is just so with this body, it would 
not move if God was not in it, and we must 
always take good care of the body, and 
never abuse it in any way, never overwork 
it, or ever over feed it, so that God can use 
it with us, and we use it with Him.” 

There was one turbaned East Indian who 
had manifested the greatest interest in 
Zella^s story. 

“May we hear your version, Swami?” 
asked Mrs. Dent, turning to him. “1 am 
sure you would help us all to see more 
clearly this great truth.” 

“Later,” replied the master, well pleased 
with what he had listened to. 

“Shall you be afraid of the whales now, 
Zella, child?” asked Mrs. Dent. 

“I shall try and not let that great big 
thing you call delusion, swallow me up, 
because I don’t believe the body is me. 
‘Me’ claps my hands and runs my feet,” said 
little Zella, putting the thought into action. 
Here all the little ones ran away with her. 
Presently Leonidas came back, and putting 
his arm around his mother, kissed her and 
said: 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 77 

H don^t quite understand about Jonah. 
Will you explain to me at another tiine?^’ 

^^Go ask the Swami to explain to you 
now, he has gone over to the other side of 
the boat.” 

Leonidas was seen an hour later sitting 
with the Swami, entirely absorbed in what 
was being told him. The other children on 
the boat had gathered about the master 
also, and he was now relating to them stor- 
ies of his own country and of the children 
there. 

Some new and desirable acquaintances 
were formed among the passengers on the 
boat. 

One day while the Starbright party were 
listening to the teacher with a yellow tur- 
ban, he turned abruptly to Mr. Starbright, 
and asked: 

^^Wast thou ever in India? I have a 
friend who has reason to remember one by 
the name of Leonidas Starbright.” 

^L4nd wilt thou tell me his name, Swami? 
I hav^ been in India, and Leonidas is my 
name.” 

‘^Ha! then it must be that thou art he, for 
thou hast the visage of benevolence, and 


78 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


the touch of thy hand betokens a warm 
heart. Dost thou remember one summer 
eve, when the days were fiercely hot, halt- 
ing beneath a palm tree, and there finding 
a weary traveler, heart-sick and discour- 
aged? Was it thou who didst offer him the 
milk of a cocoanut and who cheered him 
with words of love, and as he gained 
strength, didst place him on thine own 
beast and didst w^alk thyself by his side, 
until an inn was reached, w^here thou didst 
provide for him for days, and then didst 
give him a purse well filled that he might 
reach his home in safety? Say, art thou 
he? for that sufferer was my brother, and 
I have searched for his deliverer until 
now.’’ 

Mr. Starbright w^as so touched by the 
tender recital of the story that tears sprang 
to his eyes. Kising and extending his hand 
he said: ^^Thou sayest truly. This was one 
of the incidents in my life while in thy 
country, but it was one of many, for God 
greatly blessed me.” 

^^Let me embrace thee, brother,” said the 
Swami, and he fell upon Mr. Starbright’s 
neck and kissed him. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


179 


have often wondered what became of 
that sufferer. Does he live?” asked Mr. 
Starbright. 

“Aye! he lives, blessed be God, and his 
holy angels. He lives, and has a princely 
fortune, all made upon the contents of that 
silken purse which thou didst give him. 
After God, he owes it all to thee, and if thou 
wilt find him, thou wilt be entertained as 
befits a king. He is a scion of the royal 
ancient house of Tamerlane, but better yet, 
he is a royal soul.” 

“This is the first story,” said Kichard 
Dent, “we have heard of our father’s life in 
India, as told by another. What has been 
thy mission in Melbourne, Swami? The 
ingathering of souls?” asked Mr. Dent. 

“Rather the fulfillment of the great de- 
sire of all who believe in the One Spirit, 
namely, the establishment of a brotherhood 
that shall embrace all mankind. If there 
is but one Father, there can be but one 
family, and if that Father’s heart be love, 
then the family should be bound in love,” 
answered the Swami. 

“But supposing I take exception to such 
doctrine,” said Mr. Carper, who had been 


i8o 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


sitting close by listening attentively. “In 
the world at large there is precious little 
brotherly kindness manifested. The broth- 
er is beaten and left to starve, or the over- 
burdened wife, in hopeless helplessness, 
sinks beneath her burden. The leper is 
driven into the deep forests and fed on rot- 
ting fish, whilst his joints are consumed by 
the foul disease. Surely God does not rule 
in this world, to all appearance. What 
sayest thou, Swami? Has thy faith suf- 
ficient hope in it to cause thee to believe 
that God will sometime so rule in the 
hearts of his children, as to make the life 
of a fellow-being as precious to a man as 
his own?’’ 

“Thou hast explained our faith better 
than thou knowest,” replied the Swami. 
“Thou dost look for God to rule in the 
external. We look for Him to rule in the 
hearts of His children. The heart is the 
seat of power, for it is the great center of 
feeling, and when that center is controlled 
by pure love, great joy comes into the life. 
Love is a crown of glory that the jeweled 
crown of a king but symbolizes.” 

“But suppose I am only arguing for the 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. l8l 

sake of drawing out thy highest thought? 
It is well, I think, to look on all sides.” 

“There is but one side that it pays to look 
upon,” replied the Swami, “and that is 
God’s, and God is Love. Then only love is 
worthy of our consideration. Thy acknowl- 
edged teacher of the Truth, the Man of 
Nazareth, taught the power of a certain 
kind of thought. I have learned to under- 
stand His lesson. When He withered 
the fig tree it was that He might show to 
His disciples the quality of a wrong 
thought — the quality of a curse. He 
would have us consider that quality of 
thought which would cause the fig tree or 
plant to increase in size and beauty and 
strength, which thought is opposite to the 
curse. 

“I am acquainted with one, who has for 
a long time believed that plant-life is as 
responsive to thought as animal life. She 
has a garden, now a beautiful one, com- 
menced almost by the accident of her be- 
coming interested in and loving a weed. 
She was an uneducated woman, and in her 
simple fashion talked to the weed about its 
life, and how it flourished; each day she 
praised that life as though she were speak- 


i83 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


ing to one who could respond to her word, 
nor dreamed for a time that it could be so,” 
said the Swami. know that some may 
laugh and say weeds grow fast enough at 
any time. True, but of this simple weed 
she learned in time a great truth. It came 
into her mind suddenly one day that plants 
like to be talked to as well as human be- 
ings. ‘Loved to be praised,’ she said, and 
believing she had made a great discovery, 
for ‘the spirit within, always beareth wit- 
ness to the truth,’ she took some of her 
scant earnings and purchased as many 
plants as she could. She placed them in 
her garden in a large circle about the weed, 
and naming each one called them her fam- 
ily, and the weed from which she had 
learned so great a lesson, she named the 
Priest, and greeted and treated them all as 
she did her family, calling each tenderly by 
name. Remember that she was of simj)le 
heart and ways, and that it is the simple- 
hearted through whom God may reveal His 
great Truth to His children. 

“She declared that the flowers nodded as- 
sent to all her sweet words, and that they 
would sometimes toss their heads as 
though they were listening. It was amaz- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 83 

ing to see how, week by week, those flowers 
stalked into magniflcence, and bloomed in 
all the exuberance of the praise-words that 
she had showered upon them. 

^^This is no myth, for the woman of whom 
I speak was my pupil and lived near my 
own abode. I could not help but watch 
with deepest interest the great reward for 
her adventurous faith. I confess that the 
expanding proportions of her flowers were 
marvelous even to me. The stalks were 
luxuriant and large. The leaves three 
times the ordinary size. They crowded to- 
gether for want of room, though they had 
been set far apart. I watched them myself 
with delight, and noticed that no destroy- 
ing insect came near them. It is now flve 
years since this woman began to nurse the 
weed with her word of praise, and that 
while its type has not changed, its appear- 
ance has to such a degree, that it is a 
stranger to its kind, and the garden of flve 
years that contains only a hundred square 
feet, is named by some of her neighbors, as 
^The Garden of Eden,’ and produces sup- 
port for herself, flve children, and four 
grandchildren.” 


184 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


‘^Swami, is that not a story of the Ori- 
ent?^’ asked Mr. Carper; “to talk to deaf 
ears, or to things that have none, and ex- 
pect them to respond, requires the blind 
faith of a child, — a good story for the child- 
ren, a fairy story.” 

“Are we not all children, brother?” 
gently questioned the Swami. “Thy Mas- 
ter taught that we must be like little child- 
ren if we would grow to be wise. It is a 
story of the Orient, and a true one, in which 
I find great wisdom,. I had not deeply 
studied thy great Teacher^s parable of the 
fig tree, until now, though the teachings of 
our Master, Buddha, contain the same. 
Both have taught That which ye sow ye 
reap.’ If corn then corn, if love, then love; 
that also God is all-hearing and every- 
where center. Is not this our mistake, 
brother, that we have looked for Him out- 
side of His creations? His command is 
‘give Me thy praise.’ What is the life of 
the plant? Is it not God’s? If He be all- 
hearing, may He not have rewarded the 
poor woman by giving to her plant a newer 
thrill of life and beauty? Would not that 
be an answer and proof to her that He did 
hear her praise?” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 85 

Mrs. Drake who until then had been si- 
lent, though intensely interested, said: 

^^Thy teaching is strangely new, Swami, 
and recalls my own mother^s words and 
tender touch toward all living things. Her 
plants were always thrifty, the fairest and 
the finest. We knew not why. I under- 
stand your words, and because of her expe- 
rience I believe them true. I am grateful 
to you. Master.” 

‘^She hath said well. I am Master, and 
the Christ in me, as in all, whenever we 
shall find Him in ourselves, shall rule, com- 
mand, and be obeyed.” 

But here we are nearing Colombo. Here 
the Swami’s teachings were given up, 
when, if ever, to be resumed, it was not 
known. 

Mr. Starbright had in his mind a place 
for him in their party, if only he could be 
persuaded to travel with them. 

This was soon settled, for the Swami was 
journeying leisurely, and he was joyously 
eager to show the Starbrights the way to 
his brother’s bungalow. 

There was no more quiet on the steamer 
now. They had arrived at anchorage, a 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


1 86 

point two miles out from Colombo. No 
sooner had the boat stopped than it was 
crowded with all sorts of peddlers, money- 
changers and hotel runners. The direst 
confusion prevailed. 

All who have ever landed at Colombo re- 
member like scenes. Our party were glad 
to make their escape into one of the many 
waiting tenders; steam launch, boat, or the 
long slender catamaran; the latter manned 
by a dusky form. This little out-rigged 
canoe, or tree-trunk dugout, impelled by 
oar or sail, bounds over the water at a good 
speed. 

A new world was opening up to all of the 
travelers of our party, except the Swami 
and Mr. Starbright. These tw^o were fa- 
miliar with the city and its people. 

It was of great advantage to all to have 
this Eastern traveler with them, for he had 
a quick eye, and those two good friends of 
all mankind, a willing heart and ready 
hand with which to serve his fellow men. 
The children had grown very familiar with 
him, where at first they had been some- 
what timid because of his strange dress; 
they now surrounded him and plied him 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. Ig7 

with questions concerning things that were 
new to them. 

Mr. Starbright laughingly counted the 
heads of their party, all the way on their 
journey, though everything was so system- 
ized and the assistants so well trained that 
no one need burden himself with care. 
Even while landing at Colombo there was 
no unseemly haste, no confusion, but rather 
a military order in all their movements. 

The magnificence of the tropical verdure 
of Ceylon can hardly be described. The 
variety of trees, gay with singing birds, the 
marvelous flora with tints as brilliant as 
the morning, can nowhere be excelled, not 
even in California. The delightful climate 
is a balm to the weary one, and the abund- 
ant fruits provide, if we choose, food with- 
out cooking. Verily might the ancients, 
as indeed they did, have considered Ceylon 
The Garden of Eden. 

The island is two hundred and seventy 
miles in length and one hundred and thirty- 
seven broad, with a population of two mil- 
lion five hundred thousand, and has a his- 
tory dating 543 B. C. Its population does 
not far exceed that of Chicago, or the state 


i88 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


of California. Taken all in all, Ceylon is 
nearly an ideal paradise, where Buddha’s 
tree, planted two hundred and eighty-eight 
years B. C., is still flourishing. 

Little wonder that the heart of the tur- 
baned traveler beats with delight as he 
sniffs the air, laden with ravishing sweet- 
ness; for the honeysuckle and every creep- 
ing vine gives abundantly of its fragrance, 
in its manifest luxuriance. 

A peculiar style of vehicle, carts of many 
kinds, gilded and sometimes covered with 
fine silk set on two wheels, drawn by bul- 
locks that are noted for their speed, are 
notable among their magnificent coaches. 
Leonidas J r., was particularly interested in 
the fine Australian horses. They elicited 
continual shouts from the children, and the 
oddities of living made the travelers feel 
that they could take up their abode here for 
many moons. One of the many things that 
pleased the children was the fragrant night 
lamp composed of two little sticks tied with 
a bit of wick at the center, the ends tipped 
with cork that it might float in the oil and 
so burn through the night. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


As Zella looked out from the bungalow, 
one that had been chosen for the party by 
the great teacher, upon the cocoanut palm 
groves; the resplendent colors of the creep- 
ing vines above which the scarlet Hibiscus 
towered, in velvet luxuriance; upon the in- 
sect life in the gay coloring of its own tropi- 
cal clime, she felt that Melbourne's beauty 
was here surpassed. 

The birds, in their brilliant plumage, 
perched upon the trees, looked like ripe 
fruit ready to fall, and the beautiful butter- 
flies upon wings of content, were lost to 
sight in the matchless color of their own 
skies. 

Zella was not alone in her admiration. 
Mrs. Drake, whose new life was a revela- 
tion of beauty to her, and so strongly in 
contrast to that of her first marriage, was 
in fullest sympathy with both Zella and 
Jessie, whose joyous hearts had ever beat 
in faithful unison with her own. 


190 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


None could at this time conceive of any 
more desirable place to tarry, and so for 
the present all thought of farther journey- 
ing was given up except by Mr. Starbright. 

The scenes were not strange to him, but 
the companionship and teachings of this 
new acquaintance he had never known be- 
fore. 

He sometimes questioned himself, w’as it 
because of more leisure, or was it that his 
mind was just opening to some of the great 
truths, which, though always present with 
him, had yet been hidden from his sight? 
He now began to see that the ripest fruit 
and the sweetest blessings were being real- 
ized by him as life seemed to be ebbing 
away. Yet thoughts of his blessings so 
quickened his blood and moved his limbs to 
renewed action, that he spoke aloud, ‘T 
am young with the youngest of you, and 
feel that there should be in me no decay. 
What sayest thou, Swami?” he asked as the 
Master appeared on the broad veranda and 
threw himself upon a comfortable ham- 
mock. 

‘^Concerning what, brother? what is the 
chief thought, that apparently stirs thee 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. I91 

with new life, for thou art really younger 
than when thou didst first set foot in Co- 
lombo. It is not altogether the climate, 
how^ever much thou mayest consider it bet- 
ter than thine own. The deeps of man’s 
nature are only stirred by thought. Tell 
me, w’hat has been thy thought?” 

“I was meditating, as thou didst appear, 
upon life — its flow and ebb. Behold the 
fullness of its expression and its freshness 
in these children. One cannot keep a child 
still. From dawn till night comes dowm, it 
is ceaselessly active, whilst in children of 
older growth the ebb begins w’hilst at the 
very zenith, and loss is made manifest at 
every step. 

“If there is a continuing life, why should 
not this one be in its panoramic passage 
more glorious in its fullness as the last 
chapter closes? Why should a man totter 
to his grave?” 

“Our great teachers,” replied the Swami, 
“have given us the secret of continuing life 
here upon this planet. Look at me. Thou 
canst not tell my age, I w^arrant, as man 
measures time. Thine owm great Master, 
He of Judea, taught that a thousand years 


92 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


were as a day with the Lord. Canst thou 
tell me the number of my days?’^ 

‘Well — I should say, close to fifty,” re- 
plied Mr. Starbright. 

“I will not make it known to thee,” re- 
plied the Swami. “Thy hair is white, but 
my days on this planet have more than 
twice outnumbered thine. I tell thee, 
brother, when thou wilt learn the great se- 
cret of life as I have learned it, thou wilt 
know that life flow^s continually, and with 
ever increasing power for all who seek it. 
Thinkest thou that the Creator glorifies 
Himself in death? He is Life, and in life 
there is no death.” 

Just here the veranda became crowded 
with the other members of the party, and 
as Mr. Carper heard the words, “There is no 
death,” he stood still in surprise, waiting 
for an explanation of the SwamPs strange 
words, “There is no death.” 

As the company seated themselves 
around the speaker, on the luxuriant 
lounging places, there was a breathless 
silence, for they had all learned in the few 
weeks of their acquaintance with the Ori- 
ental that however he expressed himself, he 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


193 


could and would make it perfectly clear to 
their understanding. 

^^Look into the sky,” he said, ^^and ob- 
serve that in it there has never been known 
death; only on earth has been seen that 
symbol called death. Your Master counted 
it one more, and the last of all the enemies 
of man, and taught the secret of overcom- 
ing it. 

“The world laughs us to scorn to-day, as 
it did Him in His day, when we speak in 
its presence any of the great points of the 
law of His secret doctrine. It will not be 
eighteen hundred years more before the 
world comes out of its eclipse of mortal con- 
sciousness, for the spirit of God is even 
now moving upon the waters, and bring- 
ing forth of its kind, wisdom — understand- 
ing. Glory to God in the highest, the su- 
preme, the eternal, for this is the eternal, 
unfading, undying glory of man. 

“O man! fix thy mind on this change- 
less substance, and be thou glorified, and 
thy days shall no longer be numbered as 
^three score years and ten,^ but as those of 
Methuselah. It shall be indeed as thou say- 
est what shall be the length of thy so- 


194 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


journ here. But this cannot come to thee 
until thou seest clearly that thou wert 
sent of God for a divine purpose; that He 
hath work for thee according to His wdll; 
that He doth not choose to spare thee, 
thou whom He hath sent to help lead the 
blind out of Egyptian (mortal) darkness. 
We only begin to live, brother, when we 
reach this point of light. This ^coat of skin^ 
in which we have clothed ourselves should 
not be like tattered garments, garments 
torn and worn, but should bear the fresh- 
ness of renewal.” 

The Swami paused. 

^Wour teachings, Master,” said Mr. Car- 
per, “are to me what the story of Aladdin^s 
lamp is to a child. Pardon me, I would 
that it were true, that which seems so to 
thee.” 

“Say rather that which is to me. Thou 
knowest well that only that is, w^hich can 
be proven. There are many of our order 
that have proven the truth of my words, 
but only they who will may know what 
life in its fullness means. 

“Ofttimes have I seen in thought how 
your Master groaned for the wmrld, and 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


195 


suffered for it while in it; groaned that the 
scales did not fall from the eyes of the peo- 
ple, so that they might see clearly the life 
that is, that knoweth no death. 

^^Our life, begun in flesh-darkness, is fln- 
ished (as taught in your own Scriptures) in 
the full revealment of the crowning glory 
that awaiteth man, only when man learns 
true co-operation with God. 

“True, your Master^s life was not marked 
by many years of time. It had no need to 
be, for in His every hour He was about His 
^Father’s business.’ It was the work that 
will endure for all time and for all the 
needs of time and for all the conditions of 
man. 

“The Christ, the great revelator in Him, 
proved the victory over the grave, for there 
was no body found in the tomb, only His 
grave clothes. Indeed, He was not the 
first, according to your sacred writings, to 
triumph over death and the grave. Other 
bodies have been made invisible through a 
knowledge of Light, even as was the Mas- 
ter’s, through His knowledge of and His 
living according to Spiritual Law. 

“What means all this? 


igG THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

We speak the wisdom of God in a mys- 
tery/ said one of the great initiates. Your 
Master spoke of life only ; He denied death 
at all times; He broke every mortal bond- 
age; He healed all manner of diseases. 
Then disease must be unlawful, and, ac- 
cording to His teachings, bitterness, and 
hate, and fear, must be lost in love. 
Was not His ministry a ministry of love? 
Was not His all-conquering mastery His 
through a knowledge of the principle of 
love? I love to think on that long fast of 
forty days, wherein He ate this bread of 
life, and fasted only from bitterness and 
the world’s condemnation. He fasted that 
He might come down in the greater full- 
ness of power to feed the hungering peo- 
ple that bread of life of which in silence 
He had partaken so freely. 

^^But how many then as now would not 
be fed? I know. how lonely on the human 
side He must have felt sometimes, because 
the world refused to hear His teachings of 
the power of mastery within, through the 
understanding of life and its principle.” 

Richard Dent, ever a respectful listener 
to any teaching wherein a grain of Truth 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 1 97 

could be found, addressing the Swami, 
said: 

would seem that heaven had ap- 
pointed this resting place, and thee to in- 
struct us in all thou mayest of the wisdom 
of thy people. Speak freely to us, I beseech 
thee, speak as if we were but little chil- 
dren.” 

The Swami answered: “My people have 
some knowledge of the truth, but truth is 
limitless as God. Buddha taught this, 
Confucius that, but to me the Nazarene’s 
teaching is greater than those of all 
others. So, to me, not in my beloved India 
alone, but in all lands, shall I stand face to 
face with that great principle of life, the 
law which your Master proved in its full- 
ness, while many another only searched 
for it.” 

“Think you as so many in the past have, 
that this was the ‘Garden of Eden?’ ” asked 
Mrs. Drake, with great earnestness. 

“Of what art thou speaking, sister?” 
asked the Sw^ami. “Truth is found only in 
the heart of man. It is God in man, and 
when this center of being, this God-con- 
sciousness is reached, surely we have en- 
tered the ‘Garden of Eden.’ ” 


198 


THY 'BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Mrs. Drake was silent. She had thought 
only of the island that they were visiting, 
but in her timidity she felt that she had 
been misunderstood, but did not like to 
say so. 

The Swami, rightly interpreting her 
silence, said: 

^^Thou wert but thinking of this garden- 
spot of our planet. I speak of the invisible 
of which the visible is but the shadowy 
perception. As a mirage but poorly re- 
flects a shore, so this fair earth is but the 
dim outline of that fairer country toward 
which we all are journeying.’’ 

For a time all were silent. At length 
Zella said: 

^Teach us, 0 Master, more of this un- 
utterable truth after which the heart of 
man longeth. May we not sometime learn 
to step, without loss of consciousness, from 
this world into that fairer one of which 
thou speakest? Is it not possible for us 
on this side, though yet in darkness, to gain 
that clearer vision and move on undis-' 
mayed? It is a great longing of my heart 
that the world may know this. Where- 
fore the longing if there be no answer.” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


199 


“Aye, thou hast spoken well. To those 
who seek in all earnestness the law so 
ably taught by Him of Nazareth, this clear- 
er sight is given. It belongs to all man- 
kind, but it comes, not without the knowl- 
edge gained by seeking. 

“I speak of your Master, because of your 
supposed familiarity with His teachings. 
Our Master was one of the great teachers 
also, and he differed not essentially in his 
teachings from yours. We understand 
and love him because he was sent to our 
people. God hath given unto all nations 
a witness of Himself. In the fullness of 
time thou, too, mayest be sent to some na- 
tion of the earth, to bear the same glad 
tidings to its people. This world is a 
school wherein man may learn when he 
will, as in time he must, to know his own 
God-like nature, and to reveal it. Through 
this spiritual influence, sent down the ages, 
the whole world is to be redeemed. The 
more of light we gain here the sooner shall 
we come to that point where, to know the 
Christ within, is to know the world’s re- 
deemer, for only through the knowledge of 
the Christ can be fulfilled the Father’s per- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


feet design and intense desire fhat man be 
glorified and rule with Him. 

A profound stillness fell upon the 
SwamPs attentive audience. All were 
deeply interested. Jessie was the first to 
speak. 

^^And will not this take ages, Master, 
and where shall our imperfectly learned 
lessons be perfected?’^ 

^^Some hold that the lesson poorly 
learned here must be completed here. 
What matter where, since it must be 
learned? Surely conditions wherever met 
will be no less favorable than these that 
by many are so sadly neglected here. But 
to go out from this world, as so many do, 
without replenishing that light within, 
that light which penetrates all darkness 
and takes away the fear and chill of death, 
were pitiable indeed, for there is terror in 
impenetrable darkness that chills even the 
marrow, and makes the bones rattle; there 
is only one light that can penetrate this 
outer darkness, it is the light of the Christ 
within.” 

Jessie spoke again: 

^^Already hath life assumed a new 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


201 


interest and aspect under your teaching, 
Master. I am changed by the thoughts 
you have given me, and I see, as in a 
vista of coming years, a light, the light 
of ever increasing wisdom. I fancy life 
should be a joy without even one touch 
of sorrow — ^the vision continues — of things 
unfamiliar to my sight. All around me is 
darkness. Is it the darkness of ignorance? 
Now, as I watch, the light grows brighter, 
it is tremulous and shimmering, like the 
first notes of Aurora at early dawn. Now 
it becomes a steady light into which from 
out the darkness figures, at first dim, and 
then more pronounced, are moving. I 
now behold a limitless expanse filled with 
radiant light and forms. I hear the songs 
of birds and the silvery music of falling 
waters.” 

Jessie’s hands were clasped across her 
knee and her head was somew^hat bent. 
Lifting her face toward the Master: 

^^Say, what means this vision?” she 
asked; ^fis it vain imaginings? I have 
knowm naught like this before.” 

^^Nay, child, thou hast been vouchsafed, 
for a moment of time, thy clearer sight; but 


202 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


marvelous as it has been to thee, thou shalt 
see more hereafter. 

^^The beautiful picture in thine own Bible 
tells thee how the angels ascended and de- 
scended unto Jacob. Why to thee? Be- 
cause thou didst nht close thy mind, but 
opened it freely to see ^the light that 
lighteth every man that cometh into the 
world.’ So said thy beloved St. John. 

^‘Thou canst perhaps scarcely under- 
stand the full significance of dream-life. 
But I say unto thee this is the dream-life 
in which we seem to live. Beal living be- 
gins only when the soul cries out for light, 
and, as the light increases, it grows upon 
our vision. The chasm between this and 
the invisible realm is spanned with indes- 
tructible rays thrown forward from thine 
own consciousness, the self-same rays that 
divine consciousness projected when thou 
wert made manifest. Now, recognizing 
these rays, thou thyself hast rebound thy- 
self to the divine consciousness that pro- 
jected thee. In this clear light thou shalt 
see the borderland, and know there are no 
dead, and that the law’s requirement is to 
abide in the continuing thought of life that 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


203 


leads into that near future wherein there 
is neither cloud nor darkness, only that in 
which thy whole heart and being shall find 
delight. Help, thou child of God, to arouse 
the slumbering soul of man, now so sound- 
ly sleeping in the darkness of night, and 
let thy light shine in his pathway, for this 
is thine errand upon earth.” 

From this closing hour of the day, when, 
with the falling shadows, the words of the 
Swami died into silence, Jessie was a 
changed being. She who had been as we 
know, a universal favorite, had seen in this 
vision, almost too sacred for speech, a 
glimpse of the illumined soul, her own God- 
like being. 


CHAPTEK XV. 


Four months of time have elapsed since 
our last meeting. One month had been 
spent in Calcutta. The travelers were 
there shown not only the home, but the 
very office building and the interior there- 
of, where Leonidas Starbright had spent 
years of his life in gathering his fortune. 
It came from the products of the soil; co- 
coanuts, coffee and gems, as well as tea 
and spices. 

Mr. Starbright had never been ques- 
tioned much concerning his life in Calcutta, 
nor had he volunteered any information, 
but there was a shadowy sense, to all 
closely connected with him, of a mystery 
that had been the controlling power of his 
life. He always spoke plainly enough to 
them of his business connections; he had 
told them how some passing fancy had 
possessed him while in London; that he 
had left there aimlessly, yet pushed on by 
a power he did not name. He told them 

204 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


205 


how, on board the steamer, he fell in with 
an East India merchant who had interested 
him in gems, and their value as merchan- 
dise, and how this merchant, judging that 
he was not without means, offered him 
after many days of acquaintance a part- 
nership with him; and how he simply 
allowed himself, as it seemed to him then, 
to drift into business of an immensely 
profitable nature, without giving himself 
any concern about the results of such an 
enterprise. 

Was it because some shadow had fallen 
upon his life that he had been willing to 
drift? for he seemed certainly to have 
drifted into fortune. His pride was fully 
gratified now that he was able to show his 
children, as he called them, the place of his 
former abode. This done, he was ready to 
say farewell forever; he was ready to pur- 
sue his last journey of life where the drafts 
of memory were less heavy. He was ready 
to float on that incoming tide which leads 
to the celestial city. He was filled with 
that peace which is power. One more 
blessing was to be returned unto him be- 
fore leaving forever the hospitable shore 


2o6 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


of India. His new friend was now to lead 
them all to a visit in the home of the man 
whom he had found on that scorching day 
beneath the palm tree. This man was 
waiting with all the impatience known to 
the temper of a hot climate, to greet his 
deliverer and the founder of his fortune. 

I can but give you a glimpse of the meet- 
ing and the reception awaiting Mr. Star- 
bright. Far out on the road from this 
luxuriant bungalow, named “Starlight 
Bungalow,” the owmer went in state to 
meet his guest and party. 

Seeing his benefactor afar off, he raised 
the flag of his country and waved it above 
his head, and w^hat was Zella^s delight 
when she came near to know that the stars 
and stripes were held in the same hand 
and waving with it. As he met Mr. Star- 
bright he resigned the flags into the hand 
of his attendant, and falling upon the neck 
of his visitor kissed him and wept tears of 
joy. Lifting his head he said: “God be 
praised? I welcome thee with all the 
gratitude of my heart to the home that He 
in His goodness, through thine own divine 
act of tenderness, hath given to me. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


207 


Come, eat, drink and be merry, for it is the 
praise due unto Him and thee. All that I 
have is thine so long as thou wilt tarry 
with me. 

would lift to thy lips the brimming 
cup of blessings, and bear thee into the 
bosom of that love which is forever over- 
flowing for its children. I have daily borne 
my prayers into the listening ears of the 
waiting Spirit, until they have become a 
ceaseless song in my mouth for my bene- 
factor, he who would not leave me to perish 
on the parched earth, with a weary and sin- 
sick soul. 

^^Look at all the treasures of my home, 
and know that the memory of thy kind- 
ness is its sparkling jewel and central 
light. Seek now thy cool apartments and 
rest aw^hile, until the coffee greets thee 
with its aroma. Know then that the feast 
is spread for thee.” 

The master of the bungalow was stand- 
ing at the entrance of the apartment, and 
as he Spake the last words he bowed his 
head and said: ^^Glory be to Him who 
ruleth forever more. Eest thou in peace, 
glad with the blessings of my heart,” and 


2o8 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


he dropped the curtains that fell between 
the two apartments. 

I cannot tell you of the happy, happy 
days to Mr. Starbright and the whole party 
spent beneath this roof, made doubly 
sacred to Tamerlane by his benefactor’s 
presence. They formed one more panel in 
his, life’s panorama, never to be forgotten 
or erased; but heaven’s richest gifts lose 
their beneficence unless they are sent on 
to bless others; divine energy within man 
must be expressed in ceaseless activity, for 
stagnation is death. 

The time of parting came. The travelers 
were to return to Calcutta, bid adieu to 
their newTy discovered brothers, and steam 
southward on the beautiful Bengal Bay. 
They w^ere to stpp for a short time at Hong 
Kong and at Yokohama, where they 
boarded a sailing vessel for San Francisco. 
Most perfect harmony had been maintained 
all this long and eventful journey, and the 
peace of mind had manifested in health of 
body. They had learned of the Swmmi the 
great truth, that inharmony produces 
wrinkles, and sometimes, indeed always is 
the cause of death. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


209 


For a few weeks they remained in San 
Francisco, visiting from there places of 
note now familiar to most travelers. Cor- 
onado Beach, Monterey and many other 
places of interest, from thence they jour- 
neyed north until beneath the shadow of 
Mount Shasta, and the towering spray of 
Shasta Springs, and then onward to Port- 
land. From this point Zella began to grow 
impatient to visit Lake Geneva, which, 
though a home to her for so short a time 
had, because of its eventfulness in her 
career, a place in her affections as of years. 
It was here she had passed from girlhood 
to wifehood, and from the state of penni- 
lessness to one of almost unlimited abun- 
dance. It was here she had gained her 
peerless husband. It was not strange that 
her heart clung to this spot and all the 
events of that happy season, and that she 
longed to once again steam on the beautiful 
water where she had been so happy. And 
she recalled that it was here she had 
so nearly lost her life. But Zella was so 
devoted to her guardian and uncle, her 
father she loved to call him, that she had 
refrained from letting him know that she 


210 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


had the least feeling of haste. So the beau- 
tiful Columbia was navigated with as much 
enjoyment as though they had just started 
out. 

Another month has passed before the 
conductor on their train shouted out 
“Geneva? Next station, Williams Bay!” 

Mr. Starbright and his party took the 
steamer from Geneva for Kaye’s Park. 
The neighborhood and surroundings had 
so much changed that Zella hardly recog- 
nized the place. 

Among the first to learn of the arrival 
of the three girls with changed names, who 
had once danced and frolicked at the Park 
and had listened with absorbing interest to 
Professor Scales, was the Professor him- 
self and his good wife. 

The Professor sought with eager haste 
to pay his respects to Zella and her uncle, 
and to give a hearty greeting to all the 
company. 

Here at Lake Geneva the party agreed to 
rest awhile from their long journeyings. 

Here the three girls had brought their 
treasures, the children, and though two 
had been adopted, none could have guessed 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


21 1 


which, two they were. Nor did the chil- 
dren themselves know they were not flesh 
and blood of the parent stem. 

Eight children, the full expression of life 
and joy, would break the neighboring si- 
lence, be it ever so profound. History 
is continually repeating itself and so, too, 
is nature. 

Here were the beginnings of other young 
lives that might perhaps unfold into as 
great surprises as had those of the three 
girls, Zella Starbright, Jessie Dunkirk and 
Susie Clay, with whose history we are so 
familiar. 

If we have, in this book of love stories, 
spoken more of the feminine than the 
masculine character, it is only because of 
that true womanliness which experience 
brought out in these three girls of differing 
circumstances, the development of that 
characteristic ever adorable in woman- 
kind. It was womanliness that had drawn 
to them as life companions three noble 
characters, as unlike as it were possible 
to And if selected for the purpose of con- 
trast. 

Mr. Starbright, with his long and shin- 


213 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS: 


ing white hair, his broad shoulders, and 
grand proportions, his classic features and 
his gracious bearing, was one who could 
not be passed; by unnoticed, and the group- 
ing for pictures with Mr. Starbright and 
the children in the foreground, was one of 
the pastimes in those days. 

A month passed quickly in a repetition 
of all that the three mothers had enjoyed 
as girls, and the delight Mr. Starbright 
found in verifying all that he had heard of 
Geneva gave great happiness to his chil- 
dren. 

At the first suggestion of Mr. Star- 
brighfs desire to return home Zella made 
hasty preparations, in which all the rest 
joined. While she had anticipated a 
lengthened visit in a few of the principal 
cities of the States, yet with the true sense 
of the psychic, she made for a good reason 
no delays. 

Inside another month they had passed 
through the cities of Chicago, Cincinnati, 
Washington and New York, giving a day 
to each, with the exception of Cincinnati. 
Here they remained several days to visit 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


213 


the convent, and the tomb of the brother 
and father, Justin Starbright. 

Upon reaching their own homes in Meh 
bourne, after one year’s absence, the party 
was in an undreamed of state of delight, 
but no one happier than Victor. Their 
hearts were full of peace and thankfulness 
that not an event of sadness had occurred 
to mar the beauty of their journeyings, in 
their long and indirect voyage around the 
world. 

It had been a very long journey for a 
man of Mr. Starbright’s years and delicate 
health, but at times he had appeared like 
one thoroughly rejuvenated. 

Professor and Mrs. Scales had returned 
with them and were like delighted children 
in Zella’s palatial home, the central figure 
and governing mind of which was Leonidas 
Starbright. He was reverenced and be- 
loved by all. 

Zella, as though to the manor born, was 
full of delight that the man who had 
taught her to think earnestly for herself, 
and to learn to know herself, together with 
his cultured wife, was to be their guests for 


214 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


an indefinite length of time, which would 
give them an opportunity to become better 
acquainted with her husband, who was 
now chief justice, and also with her other 
loved ones of the home circle. 

None but Zella had seen into the closing 
events of our story which events speedily 
followed. 


CHAPTEK XVI. 


Among the busy ones after their arrival 
home was Leonidas, Jr. He had grown 
physically as well as mentally, and was 
much taller and more manly in his ap- 
pearance. Now, with Julius Whiting 
Drake, Leo, Jr., and several boys of the 
neighborhood, he was giving orders for the 
arrangement of his large collections that 
had been made during their travels. They 
had already spent several days in this work 
and yet he had scarcely begun to empty 
his trunks. 

Julius and Leo were at tables marking 
with great care each specimen as it was 
unpacked; in fact, writing out a little his- 
tory from memory. At the same time 
Leonidas consulted his well-kept journal 
that they make no mistake. And it was 
with great delight that they were travel- 
ing together in thought day by day the 
ground they had been over, and teaching 
the other boys from nature that which 


2i6 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


months of school books could not have 
taught. . Mr. Starbright’s words that a 
year’s travel for children is better than 
three years of booklore were verified; for 
every day these three boys made haste to 
get to work in Leonidas’ museum and when 
evening came they complained that the day 
had been all too short. 

And what’s this, Lon?” asked one of the 
boys, holding up a lizard of great length 
and beauty. 

^Why, don’t you know?” replied Leoni- 
das. 

^^It looks like a lizard,” replied the ques- 
tioner, ^^but there is nowhere in the world 
they have such monster lizards as this, is 
there? Is it a real or made up one?” 

^^It is real. And they have sometimes 
bigger ones than he,” replied Leonidas, 
and added: ^^They have been found to be 
six feet long in Colombo, so Haeckel says, 
but this is the longest one we found. We’ll 
have to give him a shelf by himself. Do 
you see where he was struck on the head 
by the shot that killed him? If he had 
been hit anywhere else he might have dealt 
his destroyer a blow with his tail and hurt 
him. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


2i7 


^^Now, boys, here is my precious box of 
butterflies. This will be many days^ work 
for us, for papa has ordered me a large case 
for them and Pm going to mount them on 
delicate wires, some high, some low. They 
will then tremble with every sound vibra- 
tion in the room or from big vibrations out- 
side, so you see they will look just as 
though they were flying. WonT that be 
lovely, boys?” 

“How did you catch them, Lon?” asked 
one of the boys. 

“Oh, we did not chase them as I used to 
do, and frighten them away; but I would 
slip my hand carefully over them and they 
would find themselves prisoners. Do you 
see this trap?” asked Leonidas, holding up 
a little square case of glass that was at- 
tached to a delicate handle; “I invented 
this myself. I took this little square glass 
dish, put a frame as you see, info this 
handle, then made this slide of pasteboard, 
and when the beautiful creature was on 
a bush or flower I wmuld carefully reach 
out my glass hand, with the long arm, and 
cover him and draw him carefully off his 
perch. At the same time pushing this wire 


3i8 thy brother LEONIDAS. 

and sliding the pasteboard under his feet. 
I hated to sometimes, for he looked so beau- 
tiful on the gold or scarlet Hibiscus, or 
the honeysuckle, or on the dark green leaf 
that was his home. But then you know, 
boys, I must have my collection complete, 
for I am bound to have the best museum in 
all Melbourne. 

“Oh, see, Frank, how wonderful these 
butterflies are. See that great black fel- 
low with the big blood red spots and his 
swallow-tailed wings,’’ continued Leo, 
pointing to the largest of the collection. 
“I don’t know what you will say when you 
come to see my bugs and birds. They beat 
everything.” 

Just here Zella and two or three of the 
other little girls came rushing to the door 
with an invitation for the boys to come 
and see their playroom, for they were fix- 
ing it up and wanted Leo to help them. 

“We’ll come in a half hour,” said Leoni- 
das. “Go home and get ready for us.” 

“We are ready now,” replied Zella, “and 
can’t wait. Our California dolls and all 
the others^ even the little Japs, look just 
lovely.” 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


2I9 

^^You what!’’ said Leonidas. 

^Well, I know what you mean. You 
don’t want me to say can’t. Well, if you 
can come we can wait just a half hour, but 
we don’t want to,” and the little girls scam- 
pered to their playroom. 

Leonidas looked up at the clock and said, 
“Nine-thirty; we will not disappoint them.” 

Each child in this lovely home was given 
the utmost freedom, and taught to rely 
upon his own resources and to be responsi- 
ble for his every act. Because of this it 
was something beautiful to watch day by 
day the growth of individuality. It was 
like a garden of flowers, the poppies were 
poppies and the roses, roses, and there was 
no mistaking one for the other. 

“The clock strikes,” said Leonidas, at the 
close of the half hour, “and those sweet 
sisters know we’ll be on time, though it is 
hard to leave our beautiful butterflies and 
all the other treasures, even to go and 
admire their museum of dolls. Let us go 
quickly so to get back soon,” and Leonidas 
led the way to the next room, where there 
was a display of dolls, and tables, and 
chairs, and fans, and innumerable things 


220 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


that are temptations for the little women. 
It was a sight quite as interesting for study 
ns that of the boys’ room. There was the 
black doll, and the white doll and the yel- 
low doll; the queen in all her splendor; 
the father and mother and family of the 
Cinghalese; there was the Chinaman at his 
laundry; there was the lady of quality and 
her domestics; there were infants of all de- 
grees, in the cradle and out; there was even 
the early American product, the rag doll. 
Here in these two rooms was shown the 
great contrast between the feminine and 
masculine taste. Both exhibited the same 
painstaking and care, but in quite different 
directions. 

^Well,” asked Leo, when the boys had 
examined and praised to the girls’ satis- 
faction all that they saw, ^Vhat would you 
take for your museum, girls?” 

^^Take,” cried Zella. e wouldn’t take 
anything. We brought all these things 
home to keep.” 

“More than tongue can tell,” said Mrs. 
Drake’s youngest little girl, who sat rock- 
ing a couple of dolls in her arms. 

“Oh, there’s the bell for rehearsal and 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


221 


we’ll all have to go,” said Frank. ^^How 
many dolls do you have to take?” 

“We don’t take any to-day,” said Jessie, 
“but we must go right off. Quick! or our 
manager,” she said, looking archly at Leon- 
idas, “Avill put a mark against us.” 

In a very few moments they were in the 
theater, a room not built for that purpose, 
but prettily and conveniently converted 
into one by Leonidas Starbright, Jr., who, 
being the eldest, was proprietor, play- 
wright, manager and actor all combined, 
and who, because of his order and prompt- 
ness, was greatly respected as a leader by 
the other children. 

There had been since they returned 
much whispering and great ado about 
opening anew the theater, and represent- 
ing some of the thoughts they had grown 
big with in their absence. It had not been 
given out what the play was to be, but all 
knew that it was to be presented upon 
grandpa’s birthday, a date close at hand. 

Many hours of each day the boys worked 
together very harmoniously in decorating 
the room with foreign designs, such as they 
had seen in their travels. They had scarfs 


222 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


and flags of many nations; panels of pecu- 
liar designs; and there were curious little 
gods in wood and stone. They were happy 
in the tasteful display of their new collec- 
tions. With these their little theater took 
on a classic appearance. 

It is astonishing how the orderly child or 
adult influences a whole household to 
peace, while a disorderly one will destroy 
the happiness of the family. 

Among the children of this home Leoni- 
das, we have said, had great influence, and 
when his call came for any duty or pleasure 
everything was dropped and the order 
quickly obeyed, consequently there was 
never manifested anything on the part of 
any of the children but alacrity and cheer- 
fulness. 

It was in this home that I learned one of 
the great secrets of cheerfulness. 

Professor and Mrs. Scales had been with 
the family only a little while when Zella 
suggested that the Pavilion lectures be re- 
sumed on the broad veranda, and let who 
w’ould, assistants and all, come and listen, 
as the Professor enjoyed nothing better 
than giving his best thought to others 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


223 


The lectures quickly became a feature of 
the morning hour. 

Every department of home life was re- 
entered upon with new zest and filled with 
new beauty since their home-coming. 

In those beautiful days the golden sun- 
set of their lives, the philosopher and the 
merchant prince walked and rode and rea- 
soned together. 

Mr. Starbright had once said to Profes- 
sor Scales. 

^^My days are so full of blessings they 
must be near their close. I could not bear, 
it sometimes seems to me, another drop of 
joy. I know that soon the golden gate 
will open wide for me, and I know that 
I shall pass joyously through its portals, 
for I know that this life of sweetness, 
growing fainter here, will go on with 
renewed power and zest beyond. I 
thank God that this bright light of hope 
and wisdom-consciousness has been given 
me, for I know that having opened my 
inner sight here, it will not be darkness 
into which I pass over there, for the light, 
because of being recognized here, will be 
increased there, and the joy that I have 


224 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


tasted here will be bliss over there, ^ore 
light, more light, ^ was the great Goethe’s 
cry, and my own soul echoes his words. 
More light, more wisdom. Father, for Thy 
child.” 

Zella and Jessie or Zella and Mrs. Drake 
daily accompanied the philosopher and the 
merchant on a drive at five in the after- 
noon, whilst not infrequently two or three 
of the family accompanied them on horse- 
back. Mrs. Scales enjoyed her daily out- 
ing, always seated beside Itichard Dent in 
his own phaeton. These were healthful, 
happy hours for them all. 

The birthday was close at hand, and not 
only the children but every member of the 
family, determined to make it the crowning 
joy to Mr. Starbright after the boundless 
pleasures he had bestowed upon them in 
this journey around the world. 

That it be not too much of a surprise, 
Zella thought it wise to give her guardian 
some hint of their intention. So the day 
before she made him a short visit in his 
own room as she was frequently wont to do 
since their return. It was during this visit 
that she recognized the fact of his failing 
strength. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


225 


To-day he watched her every movement, 
and whilst she read to him a chapter from 
the Psalms his hand played in the waves of 
her brown hair. When she had finished he 
said: 

^^Zella, my child, I am going to tell yon 
my own love story. We have gained some 
valuable lessons from Professor Scales. 
Thereby some help may be given to others, 
some strength perhaps, as I give you per- 
mission to tell it when I am gone. If he 
were here he would treasure it even as I 
have, but only now as I place my hand upon 
the head of my beloved,” stroking Zella^s 
hair as she sat on the low cushion beside 
him, ^^have I realized the power of love.” 

“God grant that that time shall not come 
soon,” said Zella, although she knew it 
must, for she felt a shadow approaching. 

“I gave up my substance, all I had to 
give, my life, my love. Shall I tell you, 
Zella, child of my heart, this sweet story? 
If so go to my desk, and in the ^center of 
the table you will find a metal plate. There 
is a spring partially concealed that will 
open at your touch. Do this please, and 
bring me the curious casket you will find 
there.” 


226 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Zella did as requested and, returning, 
held in her hand a case of ivory and gold of 
most exquisite workmanship, with here and 
there a costly gem studding its lid. She 
placed it in Mr. Starbright’s outstretched 
hand. It was almost too heavy and she 
helped to bear its weight whilst he turned 
back the lid and disclosed upon its inner 
surface the word ^^Zella,” in sparkling ru- 
bies. 

He lifted from its hiding place a large 
gold locket in which was a beautiful minia- 
ture set around with diamonds. Handing 
it to Zella, he said: 

^‘This is of thy mother when a girl. Thou 
art like unto her in many ways, though not 
perhaps as fair. She was very beautiful, 
at least so I thought in that joyous time 
when I hoped she would be my bride.” 

Zella seized- the locket from her foster 
father’s hand and gazed long and eagerly 
at it, for she had never until now seen a 
picture of her mother. There were found 
no paintings of her when the home was re- 
purchased. Whether they had been sold 
or stolen, none knew. 

‘Ts this my mother’s face?” asked Zella, 
looking into Mr. Starbright’s eyes, in which 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 22 ^ 

a gleam as of celestial joy was seen. 

^^Look at her! Was she not beautiful? 
the sweet lady; and I never knew her; I 
never knew a mother’s care. I have only a 
memory of a delicate little woman who was 
never over joyous.” 

Mr. Starbright’s fingers played nervously 
with the contents of the casket. Zella 
kneeled by his side and leaned her head 
close to him. 

What thought now stirred him? Had 
he ever dreamed that his own sacrifice had 
struck a minor chord in her life and bereft 
it of its supremest joy? If not he thought 
it now. 

“Zella,” said Mr. Starbright, “this casket 
and all its treasures were meant for her, 
they shall be yours. Even the will made in 
her favor you will find in the bottom of this 
box. It is of no use now, but you will be 
able when you read it at another time, to 
know how" glad I was to find you.” 

As Zella lifted, one by one, the treasures 
in the box, bracelets, brooches, chains and 
ornaments for the neck, all of rare work- 
manship and great value, she was amazed. 
None but a dealer in gems would think of 


228 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


using them in such extravagance. But we 
must keep in mind that Mr. Starbright^s 
heart of love was in this extravagance, and 
to such nothing is too costly. 

^^Now let me tell you the story of my life: 

^^Your father, Zella, my beloved brother, 
was a handsome man, as you have often 
remarked when looking at his painting that 
hangs in the hall. That picture does him 
injustice. He was far handsomer than 
that, and with all so good and gentle. He 
was a man whose fascinating personal ap- 
pearance no feminine heart could resist. 
He was educated at Oxford, England, be- 
cause of our father having been educated 
there. When he returned, having gradu- 
ated with honors, he flashed upon the Arma- 
ment of our home circle like a brilliant star, 
and I myself worshiped him. How could 
I expect that my beautiful Zella could es- 
cape his power? He knew nothing of our 
attachment, which had not become an en- 
gagement. Day by day I felt a faintness 
and despair as I saw his growing interest in 
her and knew it found response.' This 
made me wretched, but what could I do? 
Overawed by his magnificence, if I could 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


229 


not help worshiping him, how could I ex- 
pect her to be uninfluenced, or how snatch 
her from him? I grew hourly more sure of 
the widening gulf that separated us. I had 
no power to bridge the gulf, I soon realized. 
He could not help wooing her, and there 
could be but one end and that marriage. I 
had dreamed of such a consummation in my 
own life.’^ 

After a few moments^ pause Mr. Star- 
bright continued: “A knowledge of this 
came to me sooner than expected. I was 
wmlking in the grounds one evening, trying 
to drive away a nervous, restless forebod- 
ing, the cause of which I did not then un- 
derstand. I heard my brother's voice in 
earnest conversation with Zella^s father, 
who, with his daughter, had been a guest 
with us at dinner. I heard the words, ^If 
you can win my daughter, and you seem to 
think you have won her, I could not with- 
hold my consent from so noble a suitor.’ 

“These words fell like lead into my al- 
ready excited brain and made me almost 
mad. They were my death knell, I be- 
lieved. I had no power to spring forward 
and press a prior claim. I sank down upon 


230 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


the sod where I stood, beneath a great tree, 
helpless, hopeless, almost paralyzed with 
my grief. How long I remained there I do 
not know. It must have been far into the 
morning, for my clothes were wet with an 
infrequent dew when I came to conscious- 
ness. 

“I could only think of Zella as one al- 
ready gone, one lost to me through my own 
tardiness. I had been intoxicated by the 
delicious consciousness of the stream of 
love on which I wms drifting. I had not 
even thought of a pledge from her or a word 
of consent. Who was then to blame? Not 
Zella, no, not she. I might blame any one 
else. I turned upon myself. I had been a 
blind fool, I could never love again. I 
could not even remain to see this love-mak- 
ing between them. It would drive me 
mad. I would go where I could live in the 
sweet memory of the past. I knew no fu- 
ture. All was blank for me. I saw clearly 
that what was wretchedness for me, if 
spoken, might result in wretchedness for 
others. I could see but one thing for me 
to do: leave Melbourne forever. Conse- 
quently I suggested to my father that he 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


231 


allow me to make a trip to London with a 
view to business. 

father was greatly disappointed. 
He had hoped that the name of his sons, 
after the English fashion, would be added 
to his name in his business, and it was hard 
for him to meet what he deemed wayward- 
ness in me. But with the tenderness of a 
good father he let me have my will, and 
gave me letters of introduction (that were 
never presented) to many desirable busi- 
ness firms where he knew that his lightest 
wish regarding me would be granted, and 
also a letter of credit of an unlimited 
amount, in case I should invest in business. 

‘^1 left Melbourne in such a state of des- 
peration I would gladly have thrown my- 
self into the sea, but some power held me 
back. I now see that it was the Will Omnip- 
otent that saved me from my own, and with 
grateful heart I acknowledge that His will, 
who holds the atom in its place, held me, 
because ^He had jewels in His hand for 
me.’ ” 

The sun fell upon the casket that Zella 
carelessly held in her hand, and the gems 
threw out their sparkling light, a blaze of 
beauty. 


232 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


^^How mysterious,” said Mi*. Starbright, 
‘ds the leading of the divine Spirit that 
pointed the way to you, my priceless one, 
and to Eichard and all the others, my jew- 
els all, wdth hearts of fire. 

“This chain,” he continued, lifting Zella’s 
chain in his hand, “was a desperate fancy 
of mine, and designed in my lonely hours. 
It was made in its curious fashion to hide 
the treasures that were to sparkle upon the 
white bosom of the only woman I ever 
loved. 

“Little had I thought what part in the 
great drama of my life, and that of others, 
it would play. Its design and execution 
gave me many busy hours, and bound my 
heart anew to the living as it does now, and 
to those who have gone before. And now 
call Sambo and have him bring the chil- 
dren; it is their hour.” 

It was not many minutes before grand- 
pa’s chair was hung, both arms and back, 
with the children, like clothespins on a 
line. It had been their custom to come af- 
ter dinner to listen to his stories, in which 
he always pictured goodness and its sweet 
reward. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


233 


^^To*night, my little people/^ said Mr. 
Starbriglit, as they came trooping around 
him, want you to tell me stories. We 
will change places. I will take a little rest. 
At this many mouths were opened, each 
striving to be heard. 

‘^Hush, children,” said Mr. Dent, for it 
was also the custom of the older members 
to gather about Mr. Starbright at the chil- 
dren’s hour, ^det one speak at a time.” 

^^Leonidas,” said Mr. Starbright, will 
hear from you first.” 

‘d4nd, Grandpa, dear, we have only one 
story to tell, and that’s all about our thea- 
ter and the play we are going to give to- 
morrow night for your birthday. Oh, 
Grandpa! I tell you it’s going to be splen- 
did. We can’t think of anything else, be- 
cause you see the Fairy Queen is coming 
off to-morrow night.” 

^^Ha! Mamma, Leonidas said ^can’t,”’ 
said Zella. 

^^Excuse me, sister, I meant don’t.” 

^Well, tell me all about it. If I am to 
see it I shall enjoy it more if I know some- 
thing of it to begin with,” said Grandpa. 

The children were so full of the Fairy 


234 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Queen, as Leonidas had said, that they did 
not notice Mr. Starbright’s pallor or con- 
dition. 

^^You to see it. Grandpa! Well, I guess 
so ! Why, Grandpa, it’s all been got up for 
you, and you just ought to see our box- 
office, for no one can get in that does not 
have a ticket, and you are the only one who 
is to have a complimentary. And we have 
a private box for you and Mamma, and it’s 
a beauty,” at which all the children clapped 
their hands, shouting gleefully. 

^^Leonidas has the floor,” said Mr. Carper. 

‘^It is fit for a king,” continued Leonidas. 
^We tried to have it big enough for papa, 
too, but we couldn’t, and we know he will 
be happy anyway, to see how beautiful you 
will look, and Mamma, too, and he couldn’t 
see that if he sat with you.” 

“Tell him about the Fairy Queen,” 
shouted the little girls all at once; “tell 
him how beautiful she is.” 

“And shall I tell you all about it. Grand- 
pa? No, I guess I won’t, for then there will 
be no surprises.” 

“I should like to hear about it now,” said 
Mr. Starbright. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


235 


^Well,” replied Leonidas, “I am man- 
ager, you know, but I am to be the sweet- 
heart of the Fairy Queen. I fall in love 
with her because she is so beautiful. When 
I first see her she is folded inside a lily, 
close to the edge of a pond. I don’t see her 
when the lily is folded up, you know. 
Grandpa, but when it opens and she sings. 
She’s just beautiful, and I am captured 
with her.” 

The children clapped again and would 
not be quieted until Leonidas said, “why 
Grandpa is crying, I see the tears in his 
eyes.” 

“Tears come sometimes when we are 
happy,” said Mr. Starbright, to conceal his 
real feeling. 

“Well, you can’t cry to-morrow night -nor 
no one else, for there are so many funny 
things in our play; but the funniest of it 
all is, I don’t mean funny, but I don’t know 
what other word to use.” 

“Well, never mind, go on quick,” said lit- 
tle Zella. 

“Well, it’s just this: as I am about to pro- 
pose to the Fairy Queen to be my wife, 
there comes a beautiful Prince riding by. 


236 


thy brother LEONIDAS. 


and he is Frank Dayton Drake, and he 
claims her hand and wins her heart, and, I 
don’t die of grief, but I leave the country.” 

^^Children, you are so full of play to-night, 
and you do not want Grandpa to get so 
tired that he cannot attend to-morrow 
night,” said Mr. Dent, ^^so run into the mu- 
sic room and sing us some songs, and dance 
a little if you like, and then to bed.” 

“Exit,” said Leonidas, “good-night, every- 
body. Good-night, Fairy King,” he said, 
kissing his Grandfather, “for you are our 
Fairy King.” The children scrambled to 
say good-night and kiss him, too. They 
were too excited to be orderly, but they 
were soon gone, and all was quiet again. 

“Sambo, you may help me to bed. I will 
say good-night to all. I’ll save my strength 
for the birthday, and the play to-morrow 
night,” said Mr. Starbright. 

“It is early for you,” said Zella, “but we 
are to have such an increase of joy to-mor- 
row that I think it is well that we say good- 
night.” 

She stooped and kissed him, and together 
the family left the apartment. 


CHAPTER XVII. 

The following morning was ushered in 
with glee and shouting. It was Grandpa’s 
birthday, and he was to be the recipient of 
all they chose to shower upon him, their 
desires were only to increase his pleasure. 
The day was to be given up by everyone as 
the greatest festive day that Starbright 
Palace and its inmates had ever known. 
With rare tropical plants and flags of many 
nations, the dining room had been com- 
pletely transformed. It reminded Mr. Star- 
bright of his reception by Tamerlane, the 
brother of the Swami. 

Professor and Mrs. Scales, the loved and 
honored guests, were still with them, and 
the Professor had promised to give a love 
lesson in the afternoon on the veranda. 
Everywhere vases of the calla lily, so indig- 
enous to the soil of California, were seen 
throughout the house, a suggestion of the 
visit to that state, for each vied with the 
other in making prominent some reminder 

237 


238 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

of their journey, as a compliment for all 
that Mr. Starbright had done in giving 
them the pleasure and instruction of that 
never-to-be-forgotten voyage around the 
world. 

With what light and noiseless steps the 
hours of joy pass where harmony prevails. 

The children could hardly contain them- 
selves to wait for the evening hour. They 
forsook their museum and spent their time 
in the theater. After lunch everyone gath- 
ered on the veranda to hear Professor 
Scales’ story. It w^as short and sweet and 
intended to interest and impress the child- 
ren. 

Everyone employed upon the place in any 
capacity took part in the festival, and all 
the little pickaninnies came and filled the 
steps to listen to the Professor, who com- 
menced : 

‘^It was in western Virginia, in the early 
days of railroad building in our country, 
that a road wms being made through a 
mountain. The cut made was already 
sixty feet deep. Fifty or more Irishmen 
had been up to the present time working 
harmoniously and well, under a competent 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


239 


overseer, though the men were really of 
two parties: the Orangemen, and those be- 
longing to the order of the Home Rulers. 
When, one morning, a disagreement com- 
menced the Orangemen became enraged 
with the others, and used harsh and bitter 
words against the opposite party. 

“There is no condemnation that is so se- 
vere and unbearable as that of ignorance, 
and ignorance has no means of expressing 
itself except by brute force. So the bitter 
words grew into violence, and in a few mo- 
ments the whole ground, to the overseer^s 
dismay, had become one of riot and con- 
fusion; bloodshed was likely to follow and 
the stones and sticks that were being 
thrown threatened destruction if not death. 
The voice of the overseer had no more influ- 
ence upon them than a pebble would have 
to stay a great incoming wave. He drew 
his revolver and fired several times, but it 
was not heard so great had become the ex- 
citement and fury of the boiling blood. 
Where and when the melee would cease, it 
was impossible to tell. 

“Up high on the mountain side through 
which the men had cut, stood a colored 


240 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


nurse, of the old Virginia type, in fresh tur- 
ban and long, white apron. In her arms 
she held a beautiful child, less than a year 
old, the dainty and petted pride of Mammy 

as well as of its father and mother. The 

% 

two presented a beautiful picture crowning 
the height. Suddenly there came an awful 
moment. The child sprang from the 
Mammy’s arms over the edge of the cut, and 
rolled over and over the clean gravel, with 
frightful rapidity. The wild screams of 
the nurse, in her helplessness and despair, 
rent the air. There was no possibility of 
her rescuing her precious charge. She saw 
only the blinding whiteness, as it rolled 
nearer and nearer to the field of battle that 
was now fiercely raging. What could she 
do? Surely the child would be crushed! 
She was tempted to throw herself headlong 
after it. 

^De Lord have mercy upon de little in- 
nocence,’ she ejaculated, with clasped 
hands, as she strained her sight to see what 
would befall it. She held her breath, 
riveted to the spot, when, as if in answer to 
her prayer, the foremost leader in the riot, 
with hands raised and grasping a heavy 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


24 


stone ready to hurl against his opponent, 
caught in a glance the flashing whiteness 
of the baby dress, and dropping the stone 
suddenly sprang forward and' caught the 
rolling bit of humanity in his arms. The 
man was aw^ed and changed in expression, 
as though the baby had been dropped down 
from the sky, a special message of divine 
love to him. 

"^Och, the little darlint,’ he said as he 
hugged it close, and kissed its cheek, while 
the tears gushed from his eyes. Then he 
walked up a few steps and seated himself in 
the slope of the gravel, where all the men 
could see him. 

^Teace was almost instantly restored 
among the men, not another stone was 
thrown. They all gathered eagerly around 
the Orangeman to behold the miracle of 
God’s protecting power, for themselves and 
the child. ^The little darlint’ had not re- 
ceived a scratch, and the Mammy from 
above, seeing the rescue, came running 
with all the speed her avoirdupois would 
allow, and shaking like a plate of jelly, 
down the long slope of the mountain side 
to claim her charge. The child was beauti- 


242 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS, 


ful, and sweetly smiled upon her rescuer. 

^^The fight was ended. Greater than shot 
or shell, greater than powder or brickbats, 
is the power of love, to still the storms of 
bitterness and hate, to antidote the poison 
of them both, to melt the heart of stone, to 
reform the criminal, to make heaven possi- 
ble on earth.” 

The children were full of questions about 
the baby, and they all thought this even 
better than the story of the black squirrel, 
which the Professor had been obliged to 
repeat again and again for them. 

‘T feel,” Professor Scales continued, 
“there is to be a greater revelation by fol- 
lowing this thought, and discovering the 
science thereof, and becoming acquainted 
with this power that Drummond says is the 
greatest thing in the world, than has been 
made known through the discovery of elec- 
tricity. 

“If love could be considered the keynote 
and bond of humanity I believe a proper 
knowledge and use of it in all its chords 
would actually revolutionize the world. It 
would rob the ignorant of the power to do 
evil until murder and crime of all kinds 
shall be known no more. 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


243 


chemist knows well how to dissolve 
all hard substances into liquid forms; he 
knows how by the union of certain twos to 
find a third; he claims there is an antidote 
for all poisons. 

knowledge of spiritual chemistry, of 
Tvhich love is the great solvent, I believe 
would transform all humanity and all its 
hard conditions into a w^orld of peace and 
beauty. 

^^One great revelation precedes another. 
The horse is rapidly being emancipated 
from slavery by the use of electricity. 
Horses are already becoming less numer- 
ous and in later years may become extinct. 
Consequently I can see by the little knowl- 
edge that I have gained of the power of 
love, how men shall be freed from the 
slavery to the senses, and how crime of all 
kinds may cease forever.” 

At this moment of the story there ap- 
peared, suddenly, at the foot of the steps, 
the carriages and ponies. It was the hour 
for their accustomed drive and to-day all 
the children were to go on their ponies, in 
effect a petite body guard, or outriders, and 
the mirth and laughter must have reminded 


244 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


Leonidas Starbright of that morning, when, 
at the foot of the lower terrace, he waited 
for the bride. 

The dinner hour was six, and to-night 
there must be promptness, as Leonidas 
Jr. had announced that the company must 
attend the theater in full dress. 

The table had been extended to great 
length since that beautiful morning when 
the two brides and grooms, with Mr. Drake 
and Mr. Starbright, sat down to drink their 
first cup of coffee together. Then there 
w^ere but six; to-day seventeen, and yet 
there was room in this spacious hall for 
many more. 

The candles that numbered Mr. Star- 
bright’s years, as man reckons, were ready 
for lighting. 

One of the most delightful arrangements 
that it is possible to enjoy had obtained, as 
a daily custom, in the Starbright family, 
and one that was a great educator to old 
and young. It was the habit of bringing to 
the table three times daily something, each 
from his fund of knowledge, to explain or 
talk about, when the meal was over. Thus 
a very interesting and usually highly in- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


245 


structive hour was passed about the board. 
Mr. Drake would bring a new specimen of 
coffee, or some precious stone; Mr. Carper 
a map to point out a prospective trip for 
new land investments; Mr. Dent some 
strange court experience, or promulgation 
of a new law. The mothers brought their 
contributions, and in these everyone was 
interested. 

After the table was cleared of food 
for the stomach, it was filled with food 
for the mind. The children were full of 
their experiences of the morning, and the 
after meal-time hour came to be the most 
instructive and attractive of the whole day 
to each of the household. The children 
grew up under the happy infiuence of the 
knowledge their parents had gained by 
greater efforts. It never occurred to them 
they were being educated. They grew 
daily into a new world through the 
thought atmosphere thus created, and that 
always proves a barrier to idleness and 
vice. 

The children brought their gifts and 
fairly smothered their Grandfather with 
them and their kisses, then asked to be ex- 
cused to attend to the ^^Fairy Queen.” 


246 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


The elders tarried long at the dinner 
table after the children had withdrawn, re- 
counting events full of joy of which they 
had all partaken. To please the children 
they had planned to enter the theater in 
great state. 

As we stood upon the stage to look on 
the ^Veil-filled,” as Leonidas called it, we 
found it worthy of description. Directly 
opposite and under the large arched door- 
way that led from the theater into the cor- 
ridor, was an extemporized box, decorated 
in a truly Oriental style with rich hang- 
ings, cushions, and flags. The easy loung- 
es, commodious and luxuriant, were de- 
signed for Mr. Starbright and his children. 
Directly in front of the box, and in rows 
were seats for the other members of the 
family, and their friends who had been in- 
vited. Closer still were seats for all the 
inmates of the household, while just back 
of the orchestra were all the little picka- 
ninnies who had been trained for the 
chorus. 

Leonidas stepped before the curtain and 
said: 

^We have arranged a new order. We 


THY BROTHER LEONIDA 247 

give to wit and wisdom the highest places 
that we may find response and encourage- 
ment for our ^‘Fairj Queen.” Bowing he 
stepped down and took up his baton. Im- 
mediately the orchestra gave forth such a 
flood of joy that the attention of the audi- 
ence was at once secured. After a few bars 
a chorus was faintly heard growing louder 
and louder as if a body of singers was com- 
ing nearer. When fully advanced the cur- 
tain went up on the scene of a fairy dance, 
over which was thrown, with brilliant ef- 
fect, many colored lights, making it alto- 
gether charming and worthy of a larger 
theater. 

From beginning to end the play was full 
of surprises, such that even their seniors 
could hardly believe to be the independent 
work of children. 

To-night was the crowning exhibition, 
the result of giving absolute freedom to the 
child in the unfolding of his individuality. 
The exhibit proved the wisdom of the par- 
ents. One may crush out a child^s ambi- 
tion and aspiration with dictations, while 
suggestion is a most delightful and inspir- 
ing teacher. 


248 THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 

When the curtain went up upon the bril- 
liant scene of the riding by of the Prince, 
and the wooing of the ^^Fairy Queen,” Mr. 
Starbright turned to Zella and said : 

^^The plant growls up to meet the sun. 
These children have carried out their own 
beautiful imagery because they have been 
left free to picture in the realm of thought 
what they found there.” 

The ^^Fairy Queen” was invested with all 
the sweetness of child-life, yet with a dig- 
nity that wms mirth-provoking. When the 
Prince in triumph completed the wooing 
and led off the betrothed Queen, the poor, 
distressed boy-lover declared he would 
leave the country, for he could not mar any- 
thing so heavenly sweet as the life of the 
Queen with the Prince would be. He bade 
a pathetic farewell to all he loved, to go 
and seek a princedom for himself. 

The audience witnessed in the next scene 
the beautiful love-making, and heard the 
enchanting music, given for effect, behind 
the scenes. 

When the curtain went up it was upon 
the marriage of the Prince and the Queen. 
The Bishop in his gown; the maids of hon- 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 249 

or; the beautiful little flower girls and the 
wedding guests made indeed a surprising 
and effective picture. During the marriage 
service the Prince threw about the neck of 
his bride a glittering chain of jewels, and 
said : 

^With this chain, I thee wed, by its 
mystic meaning thou shalt be led, whoe’er 
its future wearer be.” 

Mrs. Dent leaned eagerly forward, for the 
scene was so like the one in her dream at 
Lake Geneva. The steadier she looked the 
stronger grew the semblance. She turned 
to look at Mr. Starbright. He, too, was in- 
tensely interested, and as the curtain went 
down, the applause was great. Again and 
again it had to be rolled up, and the utmost 
happiness prevailed as the ^‘Fairy Queen” 
and her royal husband were many times 
called before the curtain. 

“Thus endeth this play of life,” said Mr. 
Starbright; “let us retire.” 

In the library happy good-nights were 
said and the happy hearted sought their 
rooms and sleep, for the morning would 
bring a recountal of the joyous day. 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


Zella could not sleep that night. All the 
memories of her life crowded upon her. The 
goodness of her foster father, the bountiful- 
ness of his love, and the crowning joy and 
harmony of this day and evening. A 
strange foreboding kept her eyes wide 
open. Hour after hour passed since the 
house was still and her strange wakeful- 
ness continued. 

The great clock upon the stair that had 
told the breakfast hour, on the morning of 
her arrival when a bride, struck one with a 
peculiar sound. As she listened to the vi- 
brations in their far reach as they died 
away, a strange vision appeared, a vision 
of entrancing beauty. First, a soft diaph- 
anous light, and then figures of the same 
substance floating slowly, softly down from 
a great height in every direction. As 
they gathered in mid-air, a clear, white 
light in strong and visible rays, slanting 
across as from a rift in the higher heavens, 

250 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 25 1 

glinted the translucent wings and centered 
in a great luminous circle of blinding 
brightness, above which were visible two 
mighty wings. 

Earnestly Zella gazed for understanding. 
What could it mean? 

Out from this white light floated three 
figures earthward, and as they floated 
Zella heard a song of joy: ^^Behold, the 
gloi^y of life, and the redeemed of earth.” 
She heard the song taken up by the assem- 
bled host, and repeated and repeated, 
whilst the three floated nearer and nearer. 
Again her attention was called to the vis- 
ion above. It had only intensified and now 
the whiteness was relieved by a- delicate 
tinting of color that gave a warmth and 
lifelike appearance to the scene. Sudden- 
ly she remembered, and looked for those 
who had floated earthward. She could not 
find them, they were lost to sight. But she 
followed the direction of the song that was 
still audible to her. Presently there was 
the rushing of mighty wings close by; the 
heavenly song swelled into a great, grand 
hallelujah. Like mighty waves of the sea, 
it came near and then receding, diminished 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 


252 

to the softest, faintest tones, and then 
rolled back and burst upon her ear in in- 
spiring strains. Thrice had this been re- 
peated, when, again she heard the rush of 
wings close by her room. As she watched 
the three figures again slowly appeared, 
bearing with them another form. Upward 
from earth they rose, and the hosts above 
were now descending to meet them within 
the circle of the light. As they passed into 
the invisible, Zella caught a glimpse of the 
face of him who was upborne. Her heart 
stood still. She knew it was her father, her 
guardian. She knew that he had passed 
from her sight forever. 

She felt a sacred hush and stillness, yet 
was filled with an ecstasy of joy. She 
would not break the spell of the vision, or 
disturb the passing of a soul. She knew 
well that never more should they look upon 
aught but the form wherein a precious life 
had been enshrined. 

Again she heard the vibrations of the 
clock upon the stair — it had struck three. 
She had taken no note of the passing hours, 
for she had been till then entranced with 
the vision. Kising and robing herself, she 


THY BROTHER LEONIDAS. 25$ 

glided noiselessly into her father’s room, 
which was next to her own. The night 
lamp was burning low; she crept softly to 
his bedside and looked upon his face; there 
was a smile upon it and the lips were 
slightly parted. She bent low her ear, yet 
softly and tenderly, lest she disturb the 
peaceful vibrations of the spirit-laden air. 
No breath stirred there but her own. Zella 
knew that she had seen her father’s pass- 
age from the earth. She could not grieve, 
the hush and stillness was so great. 

She kneeled beside the bed and bowed 
her head in thankfulness that his going had 
been so beautiful, then rising she laid her- 
self softly down upon a couch close by, and 
waited and watched in the sacred silence 
for the dawn. She had seen the transfigur- 
ation, and death for her could leave no 
sting. 


THE END. 


SARAH WILDER PRATTS BOOKS 


THE VOICE IN THE SILENCE. 

Russian Leather, with goid embossed design, vest-pocket size, 
ciear type, $i. 

This is a very beautiful book of rather a new order. It is cer- 
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presence of divine Love and the nearness of the Father. It 
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true Christ, through “the wisdom that cometh down from 
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TIM’S FAIRY TALES. 

Cloth, 50 cents. 

One of the most charming stories ever written for the little 
children, and full of lessons for the grown up ones too. Read 
what this little deformed boy did by the use of the magic 
words “I can, I will .” — Record and Appeal. 

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of fairytales.— 

“Tim’s Fairy Tales,” by one of Chicago’s literary women. 
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HELPS. 

Price 10 cents. 

Is just what it is named and for daily needs. “A gem I keep 
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Price 10 cents. 









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